Fig. 3

LPS challenge increases cochlear expression of LPS response machinery and inflammatory genes. Expression levels of genes related to inflammation and immune response, before and at different moments after LPS injection. Results were calculated as 2^–ΔΔCt (RQ, expressed ad mean ± SEM), using Tbp as the reference gene and normalized to control rats without LPS (time 0 h). At least 3 rats were included for each timepoint (n = 15 rats for 0 h; n = 3–5 rats for 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 24.5, 28 and 48 h; n = 9 for 25 h and n = 12 for 72 h). Statistically significant differences were calculated using one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001)