Figure 5 of Santhanam, Mol Vis 2017; 23:39-51.


Figure 5. Analysis of EBM component mRNAs in the anterior stroma at 4 days after PRK with quantitative real-time PCR. Nidogen-1 (Nid-1) mRNA was not statistically significantly different in the −4.5D photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), −9.0D PRK, or unwounded control corneas. The nidogen 2 (Nid-2), perlecan, and laminin α-3 (LAMA3) mRNAs were statistically significantly higher in the anterior stroma of the −4.5D PRK and −9.0D PRK corneas compared to the unwounded control corneas. The nidogen-2 and laminin α-3 mRNA levels were statistically significantly higher in the anterior stroma of the −4.5D PRK corneas destined to maintain transparency and regenerate the epithelial basement membrane (EBM) than in the −9.0D PRK corneas destined to develop stromal opacity and not regenerate the EBM at 4 days after surgery. (n = 4 for each group; ***, p<0.01).