Fig. 7

Pharmacological inhibition of NLRP3 exerts the similar role of NLRP3 deficiency on anxiety-like behavior. A Experimental timeline of DID training and alcohol gavage, NLRP3 inhibitor (MCC950) injection and behavior tests. B In 3 weeks of DID training, WT + alcohol group and MCC950 + alcohol group mice (untreated with MCC950) had higher alcohol consumption compared to the NLRP3 KO + alcohol group mice. *p < 0.05 vs WT + alcohol group, ^#p < 0.05 vs MCC950 + alcohol group, two-way RM ANOVA; n = 6 mice (WT + Alcohol), 8 mice (NLRP3 KO + Alcohol) and 6 mice (MCC950 + Alcohol). C Statistics of 4-h alcohol intake in each session in DID model. *p < 0.05, ^#p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA. D Samples traces of each group in the EPM. E Results of open-arm time, open-arm entries and velocity after DID + gavage drinking paradigm. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 vs WT group, ^##p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001 vs WT + alcohol group, one-way ANOVA, n = 8 mice (WT), 6 mice (WT + Alcohol), 8 mice (NLRP3 KO + Alcohol) and 6 mice (MCC950 + Alcohol). WT group, WT + alcohol group and NLRP3 KO + alcohol group were referenced from Fig. 2G. F Samples traces of each group in the open field test and statistics of time spent in the center area. *p < 0.05 vs WT group, ^#p < 0.05 vs WT + alcohol group, one-way ANOVA. G Alcohol preference of 24-h voluntary drinking showed no difference among the three groups at 2 days into withdrawal. n.s. p > 0.05, one-way ANOVA. Data are presented as mean ± SEM