Myeloid cell–derived VEGF is critical for the induction of wound angiogenesis and tissue growth during the early phase of repair. (A) qRT-PCR analysis for VEGF in F4/80⁺CD11b⁺ macrophages isolated from wound tissue of mutants at different time points after injury normalized to SSC^lowCD11b⁺CD115⁺ blood monocytes (n = 4-8 wounds on 2-4 mice per time point and genotype). (B) Morphometric analysis of H&E-stained wound tissue at different time points after injury. (C-D) CD31/desmin double immunostaining (C) and morphometric quantification (D) of wound tissue. (E) qRT-PCR analysis for VEGF expression in complete wound tissue at the indicated time points after injury normalized to unwounded skin (n = 4-8 wounds on 2-4 mice per time point). (F) qRT-PCR analysis for VEGF expression in complete wound tissue at the indicated time points after injury normalized to VEGF expression in unwounded skin (n = 4-8 wounds on 2-4 mice per time point). (G) Morphometric analysis of H&E-stained wound tissue. (H-I) Morphometric quantification of CD31/desmin double immunostained (H) or αSMA-stained (I) wound tissue. Data are expressed as means ± SD. Each dot represents 1 wound; hatched line, granulation tissue; dotted line, hyperproliferative epithelial tongue; arrows, tip of epithelial tongue; g, granulation tissue; and he, hyperproliferative epithelium. Scale bars indicate 100 μm. Three independent experiments were performed. *P < .05; **P < .01; ***P < .001.