FIGURE 5.

rTFF3 promotes re-epithelialization of corneal wounds in combined in vivo (6 h)/in vitro model. Images show representative fluorescein-stained corneal wounds (top panel) treated with BSA (1.0 mg/ml), rTFF3 (0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/ml) and serum-free medium (-, control). After partially healing of the corneal defects in vivo for 6 h, whole eyes were removed from the orbit and transferred into a well plate for the purpose of in vitro cultivation. To quantify the healing progress, the remaining wound areas were digitally photographed at different time points and measured using the software Sigma Scan Pro 5.0®. The measured wound areas are highlighted in the bottom panel.