HRP-3 stimulates angiogenesis by corneal pocket assay.

<p>(A) Representative images of corneal angiogenesis. Small pieces of filter papers presoaked in HRP-3 (1 μg/μl), VEGF (100 ng/μl) or PBS were implanted in corneal pockets to induce vascular sprouting into the cornea for 6 days. # indicates filter paper position. Arrowheads indicate corneal blood vessels. (B) Representative images of corneal blood vessels labeled with fluorescent DiI dye. (C) The number of new sprouting vessels into the cornea was quantified and compared among HRP-3 (n = 5), VEGF (n = 5) and PBS (n = 10). (D) The number of branching points of corneal vessels and (E) total new vessel score were also quantified for the latest cases of HRP-3 (n = 4), VEGF (n = 4) and PBS (n = 5). Data are mean ± s.e.m. *<i>P</i><0.05, **<i>P</i><0.01, ***<i>P</i><0.001, vs. control PBS.