title: Topical fibronectin in an alkali burn model of corneal ulceration in rabbits.
abstract: We studied the effect of topical fibronectin on epithelial wound healing and ulceration in alkali-burned rabbit corneas. After the first 56 hours, fibronectin accelerated complete surface reepithelialization to 4.3 +/- 2.3 days. Control alkali-burned corneas treated with phosphate-buffered saline or albumin did not resurface for 6.7 +/- 3.7 days and 6.2 +/- 2.5 days, respectively. When recurrent epithelial defects occurred, the time required for healing was also significantly accelerated by fibronectin treatment. Corneal ulceration developed in 25 of 28 and 15 of 18 saline and albumin-treated control eyes, respectively; only nine of 18 fibronectin-treated eyes ultimately ulcerated. Immunohistologic studies showed that the initially deposited fibronectin-fibrinogen matrix on the surface of burned corneas had disintegrated by 72 to 96 hours after wounding, corresponding clinically to the time of secondary epithelial breakdown. A prominent fibronectin-fibrinogen matrix remained on the surface of fibronectin-treated corneas, presumably aiding surface reepithelialization and decreasing corneal ulceration.
authors.affiliation: Hilles Immunology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zagachin
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Colvin
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002057:Burns, Chemical; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000071821:Dystonin; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D024041:Non-Fibrillar Collagens; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D000097805:Collagen Type XVII
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003094:Collagen; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D000071821:Dystonin; D005353:Fibronectins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D024041:Non-Fibrillar Collagens; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D000097805:Collagen Type XVII; C095667:Dst protein, mouse