Figure 6
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is dispensable for HSV-1-induced corneal neovascularization. Wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 and MMP-9-deficient (MMP-9−/−) mice were infected with HSV-1 and killed at day 14 pi to excise corneas for whole mount immunostaining of LYVE-1 and CD31. (a) Representative images of Z-stacked corneal whole mount indicating lymphatic (green) and blood (red) vessels. White dotted lines demarcate the corneolimbal region. Bar=200 μm. Morphometric quantification of (b) LYVE-1+ lymphatic vessels, and (c) CD31+ blood vessels comparing WT to MMP−/− corneas. Data represents the summary of the mean±s.e.m. of two independent experiments with eight corneas per group. Data were analyzed for significance (P<0.05) by Student’s t-test.
