The effect of collagen shields on epithelial wound healing in rabbits.
We evaluated the effect of a collagen shield on epithelial healing in keratectomy wounds in rabbit eyes. Superficial keratectomies 6 mm in diameter were created in 12 eyes of six rabbits. Six eyes received collagen shields every eight hours; six eyes received no treatment (control group). Epithelial healing was significantly faster (P less than .01) in corneas treated with collagen shields (47.8 +/- 1.1 microns/hr) compared to untreated control corneas (40.8 +/- 1.6 microns/hr). Regression analysis gave a projected time for closure of treated corneas of 73.96 hours, compared to 83.41 hours for untreated corneas. Scanning electron microscopy of collagen shields after eight hours of wear showed a large number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes entrapped in the collagen matrix. Light microscopy of healed corneas showed that the appearance of the regenerated epithelium in treated and untreated corneas was similar. These results demonstrate that collagen shields speed reepithelialization of keratectomy wounds in the rabbit cornea.
Frantz
J M
JM
Lions Eye Research Laboratories, Louisiana State University Medical Center School of Medicine, New Orleans 70112.
Dupuy
B M
BM
Kaufman
H E
HE
Beuerman
R W
RW
D000818:Animals; D001458:Bandages; D001684:Biological Dressings; D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
D003094:Collagen