title: Effect of topically administered epidermal growth factor on corneal wound strength.
abstract: A 9-mm perforating corneal wound was created in one eye of New Zealand albino rabbits, sutured, and treated with mouse-derived epidermal growth factor (1 mg/L), human-derived epidermal growth factor (1.0 mg/L to 100 mg/L), or buffered saline, instilled once, twice, or four times daily. Both mouse-derived epidermal growth factor and human-derived epidermal growth factor significantly increased the tensile strength of full-thickness corneal wounds after 9 days of topical therapy. For human-derived epidermal growth factor, a concentration of 10 mg/L administered twice daily produced the maximal effect. An increase in either the concentration of epidermal growth factor or its frequency of administration failed to induce a further increase in wound strength. Indeed, at a concentration of 100 mg/L, human-derived epidermal growth factor appeared to lose its ability to accelerate healing of full-thickness corneal wounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Leibowitz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kupferman
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011817:Rabbits; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor