Title: Effects of nerve growth factor on corneal tissue reparation after phototherapeutic keratectomy
Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of nerve growth factor(NGF)on the corneal wound healing and transparency after phototherapeutic keratectomy(PTK).Methods Thirty New Zealand rabbits were used as superficial corneal scar models by burning with volume fraction 8.17% sulfuric acid,and then treated with PTK in two weeks.The eyedrops including NGF were topically applied to the right eyes(experimental group),and artificial tears were applied to the left eyes(control group).At 1 week,2 weeks,4 weeks,8 weeks,12 weeks and 16 weeks,the changes of reepithelialization were examined by slit-lamp microscope,corneal transparency was measured using an optimeter,and corneal wound healing was evaluated by HE staining.At 1 week and 4 weeks,the corneal epithelial cells were examined by scaning electron microscope(SEM).Results The corneal epithelium wound in two groups were all healed from 3 days to 7 days postoperatively,there was no difference between two groups(P0.05).The corneal transparency under different wave length ranging from 400 nm to 700 nm in experimental group was higher than that in control group postoperatively,the difference between two groups was significant in statistic postoperatively(P0.05).The excessive epithelial hyperplasia was more remarkable in control group after operation by HE staining.SEM examination showed that,the corneal epithelial cells were similar to the normal in experimental group at 4 weeks postoperatively,and microvilli on the surface of corneal epithelium in control group were still less than those in experimental group.Conclusion NGF can inhibit the corneal epithelial hyperplasia by improving the microenvironment of corneal tissue reparation,reduce scar formation and accelerate corneal transparency after PTK.
Publication Year: 2007
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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