Confocal micrographs showing; (A) CD11b-immunoreactive microglia were seen in control rat inferior colliculus tissue. (B) 1 day post-treatment, there was a marked reduction in CD11b expression (asterisk). (C) At 2 days, there was a marked increase in CD11b expression in the inferior colliculus (arrows). (D) At day 4, there was a further increase in CD11b expression. (E&F) At days 8 & 14, CD11b expression remained elevated compared to control tissue. (G) GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes (arrow) in the control rat inferior colliculus. (H&I) At 1 & 2 days following 3-chloropropanediol administration, a marked loss of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes was seen. (J) 4 days post-treatment, GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes were lost from the lesioned area (asterisk). (K&L) At 8 & 14 days, GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes repopulated the inferior colliculus (arrows). Scale bar = 80 μm (refers to A–L).