title: Effect of mechanical vs dilute ethanol epithelial removal on keratocyte apoptosis and polymorphonuclear leukocyte migration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate keratocyte apoptosis and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell infiltration to the corneal stroma after mechanical epithelial scraping and chemical de-epithelialization with 18% ethanol solution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve New Zealand Albino rabbits (24 eyes) were randomly divided into three groups. Group A was the control group with no epithelial removal. Group B underwent a 7.5-mm mechanical epithelial removal with a blunt spatula. Group C underwent 7.5-mm chemical de-epithelialization with 18% ethanol-balanced salt solution. Corneas were stained with terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay after 24 h. Only nuclear staining in keratocytes was counted. Polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte densities were also assessed by light microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mechanical de-epithelialization (group B) and chemical de-epithelialization with 18% ethanol (group C) showed no difference in keratocyte apoptosis compared with the control group. There was also no difference between groups B and C. Group B showed no difference in PMN leukocyte counts compared with the control group. But the number of PMN leukocytes observed in group C was significantly higher than those encountered in the corneas of the control group (P < 0.05) and group B (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dilute alcohol induces more PMN cell infiltration when compared with mechanical de-epithelialization although there is no difference in the apoptosis rates.
authors: Dept of Opthalmology, Gazi University, Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Gurelik
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Bilgihan
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Sezer
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Akyol
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Hasanreisoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002465:Cell Movement; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000601:surgery*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol