title: [A study on the course of corneal epithelial healing in diabetic rabbits].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to approach the course of corneal epithelial healing of diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental rabbit diabetes models were produced by the injection of alloxan. The corneal epithelium of each rabbit was removed by freezing with a 6 mm diameter brass probe cooled in liquid nitrogen. The rate of corneal epithelial healing following freezing in the normal rabbit was compared to that in the diabetic one. Contrasted with the normal rabbits, the ultrastructural changes of the epithelium with and without freezing were also observed in the diabetic rabbits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It is shown that there is no statistical significant difference in the overall rate of epithelial healing between the normal and diabetic rabbit. In contrast with the normal rabbit, the epithelial basement membrane of the diabetic rabbit without freezing revealed markedly thickened, and the mitochondria and glycogen particles in the epithelial cell increased. In the diabetic rabbit with freezing, the epithelial basement membrane appeared absent or discontinuous. After complete healing, the corneal epithelium was edematous in diabetic rabbit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The abnormal basemenet membrane and edematous epithelial cell were responsible for the diabetic corneal epithelial poor healing and recurrent erosion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xiehe Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D014945:Wound Healing