NLRP3 and ischemic stroke: Given the key role of NLRP3 inflammasome related to BBB dysfunction in the ischemic stroke pathology [12,14], the present study was conducted to further verify the in vivo effects of ruscogenin on BBB integrity in middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R)-injured mice, and explore the possible underlying pathways in an in vitro cell model of the BBB using oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-injured mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd.3).