title: Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in rabbit corneal alkali wounds in the presence and absence of granulocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the early phases of corneal wound healing in the presence or absence of granulocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A central penetrating corneal alkali wound was inflicted to one eye in each of 14 rabbits under general anaesthesia. Subsequently, seven of the rabbits were given fucoidin i.v. for 36 hours in order to block the selectins on the vascular endothelium, thus preventing blood granulocytes from entering the tissues. Then, corneas were prepared, stained for bFGF and evaluated by light microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whereas normal corneal epithelium expressed bFGF weakly, conjunctival epithelium did so strongly, particularly the goblet cells. The corneal endothelium showed medium staining, while keratocytes and vascular endothelial cells did not consistently express bFGF. After 36 hours of wound healing, a marked up-regulation of bFGF expression was observed in the corneal epithelial and endothelial cells, as well as in the keratocytes, that were migrating into the wound. No other changes were noted. None of these features were modulated when granulocyte emigration was prevented by fucoidin administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The difference in bFGF expression between the corneal and conjunctival epithelium suggests a role for this growth factor in the barrier function at the limbus. Moreover, the specific presence of bFGF in cells migrating into the wound indicates the participation of bFGF in corneal wound healing. Expression of bFGF was independent of granulocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden. lisha.gan@ood.ki.se
authors.forename: Lisha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fagerholm
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palmblad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; C007789:fucoidan