Figure 1.

Restoration of a Phenotypically Normal Corneal Epithelium after Mechanical Debridement

(A) Seven-week-old WT mice (n = 3/time point) had their right corneal epithelium mechanically debrided. Histological features of the central and peripheral cornea are displayed after staining 4-μm sections with PAS at 0 hr, 8 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr and 4 weeks post injury. Scale bars represent 20 μm. Inset presents a magnified view of the region encompassed by the hatched box and confirms a stromal neutrophilic infiltrate (scale bar, 10 μm).

(B) Phalloidin (green)-stained flat-mounted whole corneas at 16 hr post wounding and control (n = 5/group). White hatched lines demarcate the wound margin. y-z and x-z planes display epithelial thickness. Scale bars, 40 μm. Insets of suprabasal layers (first and second panels) provide a global view of flat-mounted corneas (scale bars, 500 μm). Inset (third panel) shows cells with multi-lobed nuclei within the corneal stroma directly beneath the wound bed, indicative of neutrophils (scale bar, 10 μm). Nuclei were counterstained with Hoechst (blue). See also Table S1.

(C) Immunofluorescence for K12 (green), K13 (green), and K8/18 (green) in the central cornea 4 weeks post wounding (n = 3/group). Hatched white lines demarcate the epithelial basement membrane. Nuclei are counterstained with DAPI (blue). Scale bars, 20 μm.