Fig 2: Sensory innervation of the desiccated cornea is restored in response to Lacripep treatment(A) 3D projections of nerve fibers across the peripheral and central regions of WT, untreated, and PBS- or Lacripep-treated Aire KO cornea (whole-mount). Nerves were immunolabeled for the remodeling neuronal marker GAP43, and sensory neurotransmitters substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Scale bars, 70 μm for whole-mount sections (far left, gray), 30 μm for the GAP43, SP, CGRP combined image, 50 μm for GAP43, SP, or CGRP only images.(B) Quantification of GAP43+ nerves in WT, and untreated/treated Aire KO corneas.(C) Central corneal cross-sections (20 μm) were immunolabeled for the pan-neuronal marker TUBB3 and nuclei (NUC). Scale bars, 50 μm.(D) Quantification of TUBB3+ nerves in the central corneal epithelium of WT, untreated and treated Aire KO. Scale bars, 50 μm. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001; n.s., not significant. Data in (B) were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance with a post-hoc Tukey’s test. In (D), a Student’s t test was applied to WT versus KO at day 0 and a one-way analysis of variance with a post-hoc Tukey’s test was applied to day 15. Each dot in the bar graph represents a biological replicate. All data are expressed as mean + SD. n > 4 mice per group. See also Figure S2.