Fig. 8

Astrocyte-specific NLRP3 knockout mitigated reactive astrocytes and excessive GABA, and improved neuronal degeneration. A Image of CA1 in hippocampus. Representative photomicrographs of GFAP-, NeuN-, VGLUT2-, GAD65-, GABA-, glutamate- and NLRP3-positive cells in the CA1 of hippocampus at 10 days after surgery. Scale bar = 50 μm. B–E The intensity of GFAP, NeuN, VGLUT2 and GAD65 was quantified in each group. F–H Co-stained area of GABA-, glutamate-, and NLRP3- and GFAP-positive cells in the CA1 of the hippocampus. I Representative western blot of IL-1β, IL-18, MAP2, PSD95 and cleaved caspase-1 at 10 days after surgery. J–N The optical density values of IL-1β, IL-18, MAP2, PSD95, and cleaved caspase-1. O Representative photomicrographs of IL-1β-, IL-18- and cleaved caspase-1-positive cells in the CA1 of the hippocampus at 12 h after surgical exposure. Scale bar = 50 μm. P–R Co-stained area of IL-1β-, IL-18-, cleaved caspase-1- and GFAP-positive cells in the CA1 of the hippocampus. Data are presented as the mean ± SD (n = 6 mice/group or n = 3 mice/group). Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test or Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn’s multiple comparison test. ****P < 0.0001; ***P < 0.001; **P < 0.01; *P < 0.05