Fig. 11. Myofibroblast maturation. (A-D) anti-SMA antibody staining (green) with bis-benzimide nuclear staining (blue) of (A,B) the edge of the granulation tissue in a 7 day wound and (C,D) the center of the granulation tissue in a 10 day wound. (E) Quantification of staining levels showed significantly more -SMA staining in wounds treated with Cx43-asODN than with control sODN at 7 days (P=0.004) indicating earlier maturation and differentiation of myofibroblasts. This more advanced maturation was still present at 10 days when most of the -SMA staining and myofibroblasts were lost in wounds treated with Cx43-asODN, but staining was still very strong in control wounds (P=0.000002). (F) Illustration of sites imaged in the granulation tissue. Zone I (A,B) zone II (C,D). e, epidermis; d, dermis. Data are expressed as the mean ± s.e.m. Bars, 25 µm. For a high-resolution figure, please see the online version of this article.