[Long-term follow-up of wound healing following epikeratophakia in rabbits].
Epikeratophakia was performed on rabbit corneas using cryolathed keratolens and histological examinations were performed after long-term follow-up. On days 254 and 360 after the operation, pachymetry was performed, and corneas were excised, labeled with 3H-proline (10 muCi/ml) in DME for 4 hours, fixed by 2% glutaraldehyde and analyzed histologically using light and electron microscopy and by autoradiography. The results of pachometry revealed that postoperative increases of the corneal thickness on days 254 and 360 were both smaller than the expected value, 350 microns. However, on days 254 and 360, collagen fibril density (CFD) in the keratolens stroma to 95% and 99% of that of the control cornea (264 +/- 16/microns2). On day 254, activated keratocytes with well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum which were suggestive of active collagen production and keratocytes with extended pseudopoidia that suggested phagocytic activity were observed in the keratolens stroma. On day 360, most keratocytes in the keratolens stroma revealed a normal shape. In the epithelium over the keratolens, poor differentiation of basal cells and irregularity or lack of basement membrane were still observed. At both postoperative periods, the endothelium showed no remarkable morphologic abnormality on histological analysis under light and electron microscopy. These findings and the results of our previous study indicated that the reconstruction of the keratolens stroma continued for about one year postoperatively and complete healing after epikeratophakia including epithelial repair needs more than one year.
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Kobe University, Japan.
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Sahori
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D011817:Rabbits; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology