An increased number of Csf1r-EGFP+ cells appear in the cornea ahead of sprouting vessels and pericyte recruitment.

<p>At 10 days post-implantation, both VEGF- (a) and PDGFBB/FGF2- induced (d) vessel beds exhibit clear NG2-DsRed+ pericyte investment, but the pericytes in VEGF sample appeared less elongated indicating a possible difference in vascular coverage. There were qualitatively fewer Csf1r-EGFP+ cells in the VEGF (b) samples as compared to PDGFBB/FGF2 (e), which also showed more structural heterogeneity. DsRed+ EGFP+ double positive cells were never observed (c and f). Csf1r-EGFP+ cells were examined at 3 days post-implantation. Compared to blank (g), VEGF- (h), PDGFBB- (i) and FGF2-releasing gels (j), the PDGFBB/FGF2-releasing gels (k) exhibited a greater density of Csf1r-EGFP+ cells in the region occupied by the hydrogels (l, n = 3, * <i>P</i><0.05, *** <i>P</i><0.001).