Fig. 5

Time-dependent changes in the qPCR analysis. Significant differences were observed when comparing the three groups at the same time point (^*P < 0.05) and the same group at the different time points (^#P < 0.05). The levels of ERK in the low concentration group and high concentration group increased compared with those in the control group at all time points (P_low−1D=0.042, P_high−1D=0.001, P_low−7D=0.018, P_high−7D=0.001, P_low−14D=0.047, P_high−14D=0.019). The levels of ERK were significantly increased in all the groups after 7 days (P_control−7D=0.001, P_{control−14D}=0.004, P_low−7D=0.001, P_low−14D=0.002, P_high−7D=0.001, P_high−14D=0.035). The levels of VEGF in the low concentration group were significantly increased compared with those in the control group at 1 day and 7 days (P_1D = 0.001, P_7D = 0.033). The levels of VEGF in the control group were higher than those in the high concentration group at 1 day and 14 days (P_1D = 0.046, P_7D = 0.001). The levels of VEGF in the high concentration group decreased significantly at 14 days (P = 0.005). However, in the other two groups, the levels of VEGF increased at 14 days (P_control=0.001, P_low=0.003). In all three groups, the levels of Akt increased 7 days after alkali burn injury (P_control−7D=0.001, P_{control−14D}=0.001, P_low−7D=0.001, P_low−14D=0.001, P_high−7D=0.001, P_high−14D=0.002).