Figure 4.

Representative images of the β-tubulin labeling demonstrate the acute and long-term effects of capsaicin stimulation of the cornea. (A) β-tubulin labeling around the whorl-like vortex in the central cornea of a Control animal that received vehicle solution. (B) β-tubulin is markedly decreased two hours after capsaicin stimulation. (C) Nerve density is increased one week after capsaicin, but abnormal varicosities are still apparent (arrows). Images are projections of optical slices taken through the corneal epithelium made using Imaris software. Scale bars = 40 μm