[The experimental investigation of epithelial healing in rabbit central corneal alkali wounds].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the morphologic changes of epithelium in the alkali wounds at the central corneal of rabbits.


METHODS
38 rabbits weighing 2.5 kg were used. A alkali wound of the corneas was performed in the right eye of 38 New Zealand white rabbits with round filter paper, 8 mm in diameter, which were soaked in 0.5 mol/L NaOH for 5 seconds and then were placed centrally on the cornea for 60 seconds. The corneal burns were examined and photographed after the staining of 2% fluoresent staining with a slit lamp every day. The excised corneas were examined in the light microscope, electron microscope.


RESULTS
The epithelial cells had rapidly disappeared in the burned area. The epithelial cells regrowth started at 8 hours following the burn, and 1-2 layers epithelial cells covered the burned area by 24 hours. The epithelial defects occured again on the 4th day. The desmosome and microvilli of the regenerating epithelium had a reduced number. There was no basement membrane between the regenerating epithelium and the strom. There were increased intercellular spaces between the regenerating epithalial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The epithelial healing were achieved through the division and migration of epithelial cells at the margin of the wound in rabbit central corneal alkali wound. The decrease of the junctions and the increase of intercellular spaces between the regenerating epithalial cells may be responsible for the second epithelial defects.
Li
Y
Y
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Feng
G
G
Yi
Y
Y
Lin
J
J
D000468:Alkalies; D000818:Animals; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003315:Cornea / Q000648:ultrastructure; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011817:Rabbits; D014945:Wound Healing
D000468:Alkalies