A morphological study of the rabbit corneal assay.
We present a morphological study of the rabbit corneal assay. The effects of corneal pockets filled with methylcellulosis carriers with and without basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were studied 4, 7, 11, 14 and 21 days following surgery. In the controls, strongly vacuolated keratocytes are present at the borders and especially at the bottom of the pocket. A large number of such cells can also be found in the region between the pocket and the epithelium. These cells obviously undergo necrosis. A few vacuolated keratocytes with poorly structured cytoplasm can even be found in the stroma between the pocket and the limbus. There are also changes in the epithelium. It is thinner than normal and the cells are longitudinally oriented. Construction of the pocket sometimes results in a fissure extending a variable distance from the bottom of the pocket to the limbus. Basic FGF induced blood-vessel growth from the limbus into the cornea. At least until day 7 this is accompanied by high vulnerability of the vessels, and changes in the pattern and structure of the extracellular matrix. Neutrophilic granulocytes, monocytes and a few mast cells migrate in front of the vessels. As in the controls, vacuolated and necrotic keratocytes are present within the stroma. From day 11 onward, many more vessels can be found in front of than behind the pocket, often located adjacent to vacuolated keratocytes. We suggest that an angiogenic substance placed in the corneal pocket is not the only angiogenic stimulus in the test, but acts together with many stimuli caused by the surgical manipulations.
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000494:pharmacology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D008747:Methylcellulose