Figure 1. Corneal injury stimulates the proliferation of stromal cells. Transverse sections of the cornea were labeled for BrdU (green) and Draq5 (red nuclei). Uninjured corneas (A-C) and injured corneas were harvested (and BrdU injected) at day 1 (BrdU injected 4 h prior; D), day 4 (BrdU injected at days 1, 2, and 3; E), day 7 (BrdU injected at days 4 and 5; F), and day 14 (BrdU injected at days 7 and 8; G). Arrows indicate BrdU-labeled nuclei. H: Plot indicating the mean (±SD; n=3 for each time point) number of BrdU-labeled cells within 20,000 µm² within the stroma within the region of the incision. The calibration bar (50 µm) in G applies to A-G. I: Plots indicating the mean (±SD; n≥5 for each time point) indicate the mean number of stromal nuclei per 20,000 µm² in control, undamaged corneas (red), treated stromal region adjacent to the incision site (green), and treated stromal region within the incision site (blue). ANOVA was performed to determine significance of difference within the data set and a Bonferroni post-hoc comparison was performed to determine significance between and within experimental groups. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) over time among treatment groups, with the exception of between 1 and 4 days after injury within the site of incision (p=0.002; I). Abbreviations: epi – epithelium, str – stroma, endo – endothelium.