Figure 5 of Ritchey, Mol Vis 2011; 17:2440-2454.


Figure 5. Neuronal re-innervation of the corneal epithelium occurs rapidly after injury. Transverse sections (A-E, H-O) or whole-mount preparations (F-J) were labeled with Draq5 (red) or antibodies to SV2 (green) and substance P (red; N and O). The inset in B is a high magnification view of SV2-positive neuronal ending in the basal layers of the corneal epithelium. Panel E is a twofold enlargement of the boxed-out (yellow rectangle) area in D. Panel F is a projection of confocal Z-stack of images taken from the surface of the epithelium down to 80 µm of depth. Panel G is a projection of confocal Z-stack of images from 80 µm down to 140 µm of depth from the surface of the cornea. Panel H is a 3D shadow reconstruction to demonstrate the arrangement of SV2-positive nerve terminals re-innervating regenerated epithelium. Panels I and J are 20° and 90° rotations of confocal Z-stack reconstructions to demonstrate the re-innervation of the trough of regenerated epithelium within the corneal incision. Arrows indicate SV2/substance P-positive axons in the stroma. The calibration bar (50 µm) in panel O applies to panels A-D, K, L, and M-O. The bar in H applies to all F-H panels, the bar in I applies to I alone, the bar in J applies to J alone. Abbreviations: epi – epithelium, str – stroma, endo – endothelium.