Effects of topical carbamylcholine on corneal epithelial resurfacing.
Effects of topical carbamylcholine on resurfacing of epithelial defects produced in both eyes of New Zealand albino rabbits with 18 N H2SO4 were evaluated. One eye of each animal received carbamylcholine (50 microliter of a 1.5% solution in HBSS) t.i.d. (10 AM, 1 PM, and 4 PM) for 7 days, with treatment beginning the morning after defect production. The contralateral eye received 50 microliters HBSS and served as control. Resurfacing was monitored by fluorescein staining and photography. Rates of resurfacing were calculated by linear regression analysis of plots of defect surface area versus time. Data represent treated and control eyes of 19 animals in two experimental series. In these experiments, carbamylcholine significantly enhanced epithelial resurfacing, although the effect was not dramatic. Mean resurfacing rates were 11.9 +/- 1.4 mm2/24 hr for carbamylcholine-treated eyes versus 8.5 +/- 1.3 mm2/24 hr for control eyes (p less than .001). On each day after initiation of treatment, the mean percentage of original defect area remaining was significantly lower in treated than in control eyes. At the end of the 7-day treatment regimen, none of the defects were completely resurfaced (mean for treated eyes = 79.9 +/- 2.2%, mean for control eyes = 56.8 +/- 4.3%).
Colley
A M
AM
Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory Eye Center, Atlanta, GA 30322.
Cavanagh
H D
HD
Law
M L
ML
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000473:pathology; D002217:Carbachol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects*; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D002217:Carbachol; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase