Skin wound healing is accelerated in OPN AS ODN–treated wounds. (A) A schematic diagram illustrating the location and dimensions of the full-thickness excisional and incisional wounds made to shaved dorsal skin of adult male ICR mice. Dotted lines indicate the axes of sections. (B) Macroscopic observation of excisional control- and OPN AS ODN–treated wounds at various time points after wounding. (C) The proportion of the wound remaining open relative to the initial wound area at each time point after the injury in control- (open bars) versus OPN AS ODN–treated (filled bars) wounds (mean ± SEM; n = 6). (D) Schematic to indicate measurements derived from histological sections. (E) Wound reepithialization at 3 and 7 d after wounding (n = 9 for both). (F) Connective tissue wound width remaining after 3, 7, 10, and 14 d of repair in control- versus OPN AS ODN–treated wounds (day 3 and 7, n = 9; day 10 and 14, n = 6). (G) Expression of α-smooth muscle actin at 3 and 7 d using Western blotting. Images shown are representative of four independent experiments. (H) Tissue from excisional wounds was harvested at 14 d after wounding and stained with Masson's Trichrome, and the extent (cross-sectional area) of granulation tissue was visualized and quantified at the mid-point of the wound (indicated by dotted line). (I) The area of granulation tissue was significantly decreased by OPN AS ODN treatment (filled bars), relative to control (open bars; day 3 and 7, n = 9; day 10 and 14, n = 6). Bars: (B and H) 1 mm.