Keratocyte loss and repopulation of anterior corneal stroma after de-epithelialization.
OBJECTIVE
To quantitate corneal keratocyte loss and repopulation of anterior stroma after de-epithelialization.


METHODS
Fourteen white New Zealand rabbits, each weighing 2.3 to 3.2 kg, were divided into seven groups. Each rabbit underwent a bilateral 6-mm mechanical deepithelialization procedure. The rabbits were killed two at a time after 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, and 28 days. The corneas were labeled for mitosis using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine and stained for keratocyte quantification. Three untreated rabbits were added as controls.


RESULTS
Corneas that were not operated on showed a higher density of keratocyte nuclei within the anterior corneal stroma than in the posterior stroma. Following de-epithelialization, there was a decrease in the ratio of anterior-posterior keratocytes, with maximal decrease on the third postoperative day. Keratocyte repopulation was completed by day 14. Mitotic activity was seen on days 1, 3, and 6 in the anterior half of the de-epithelialized stroma.


CONCLUSIONS
Anterior stromal keratocytes are lost after epithelial removal, but repopulation is complete within 2 weeks. These findings demonstrate a loss of keratocytes and their recovery after corneal epithelial removal, as well as an interaction between corneal epithelium and stroma in rabbits.
Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
K D
KD
Szerenyi
X
X
Wang
K
K
Gabrielian
P J
PJ
McDonnell
D000818:Animals; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000166:cytology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D008938:Mitosis; D011817:Rabbits; D014945:Wound Healing
D004247:DNA; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine