[Studies on the change of extracellular matrix in the corneal tissue after photorefractive keratectomy in rabbits].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the haze formation and the change of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the corneal tissue after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).


METHODS
Twenty-four adult New Zealand White rabbits received PRK in the right eye for minus sign10.00 D ablation. According to the time of rabbits sacrifice, they were divided into 8 groups, and 3 rabbits were in each group. They were immediate, 24 hour, 1 week, 2 week, 1 month, 3 month, 6 month and 12 month groups. After surgery, the corneas were examined periodically by slip-lamp microscopy for haze formation. The right eyes were enucleated, and the corneas were studied with immunohistochemical evaluation for extracellular matrix, including collagen type I, type III, type VI, cellular fibronectin, tenascin and laminin.


RESULTS
The incidence of haze was 100% after PRK. The formation of haze had a tendency from mild to severe, and along with the time prolongation, it gradually decreased and disappeared. The newly synthesized collagen type I, type III, type VI, cellular fibronectin, tenascin and laminin were deposited in the anterior corneal stroma.


CONCLUSIONS
The formation of haze is closely related to the deposition of ECM elements in the anterior corneal stroma in the surgical area.
Qi
H
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China.
Chen
Y
Y
Zhu
X
X
D000818:Animals; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000032:analysis; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000032:analysis; D024142:Collagen Type VI / Q000032:analysis; D003315:Cornea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000601:surgery*; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019063:Tenascin / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D024142:Collagen Type VI; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin; D019063:Tenascin