[mRNA expression of keratoepithelin in cornea after photorefractive keratectomy in rabbits].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the roles of keratoepithelin(KE) during healing after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).


METHODS
20 of 24 rabbits underwent bilateral 193 nm excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy to correct 10 diopters of myopia, and the other 4 rabbits as normal group. The mRNA levels of KE in corneas of the rabbits were determined by the in situ hybridization technique with a Digoxigenin labled probe.


RESULTS
In normal group, there was no mRNA expression of KE in cornea. on 7, 14 days after operation, mRNA expression of KE was observed in epithelium and stroma of operation group, while on 28 days mRNA expression of KE was observed only in epithelium.


CONCLUSIONS
KE was involved in the synthesis of extracellular matrix during healing after PRK and may play an important role in the development of haze by maintaining proper spacing among collagen fibrils.
Xu
H
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Zhongnan University, Changsha, 410078, China.
Liu
S
S
Xia
X
X
Huang
P
P
Wang
P
P
Wu
X
X
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000099222:betaIG-H3 Protein
D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000099222:betaIG-H3 Protein