Purpose: To determine the timing of Muc4 expression during the association of endothelial cells to form blood vessels in the rat corneal stroma after corneal wounding.
Methods: Corneal damage was inflicted using brief cauterization with silver nitrite. Contralateral and wounded corneas were examined at time periods after wounding by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence for Muc4 and for the blood vessel endothelial cell marker von Willebrand Factor.
Results: Blood vessels and von Willebrand Factor-stained cells were very sparse in corneal stroma from unwounded corneas. In contrast, aggregates of von Willebrand Factor-stained cells were prevalent in wounded corneas at days 4-5 and 7-10. Muc4 expression was limited at days 4-5, but extensive at days 7-10.
Conclusion: Muc4 expression develops in endothelial cells during the mid-stages of cell aggregation and blood vessel formation.