[Western Blot analysis of type I, III, V, VI collagen after laser epithelial keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy in cornea of rabbits].
OBJECTIVE
Use immunohistochemical staining and Western Blot analysis to observe and compare the accurate dynamic changes of type I, III, V, VI collagen in the wound healing processes of the rabbit cornea which underwent LASEK or PRK to investigate the possible mechanism of corneal haze and myopic regression.


METHODS
New Zealand White rabbits were divided into 8 groups: normal control group (n=6), 1 day, 7 days, 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 month groups (n=14). Every rabbit underwent LASEK in one eye while the other one with PRK. We use immunohistochemical staining and Western Blot analysis to compare the wound healing process of dynamic change of the type I, III, V and VI collagen in rabbit cornea of every time point. The results were analysised with data analysis software.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical staining and Western Blot analysis showed that after LASEK, the cornea wound healing with type I and III collagen were much faster than PRK, and the wound response was also much weaker. Whereas for type V and VI collagen, their dynamic changes were resemble between LASEK and PRK, they both reached the peak value after 3 months since the surgery, but LASEK group returned to normal earlier than PRK. The value of these two types of collagen after PRK were higher than LASEK. The changes of these four types of collagen may offer us at least partial explaination to the difference between formation between corneal haze and refractive regression.


CONCLUSIONS
There were significant differences between LASEK and PRK on type I, III, V and VI collagens or the time of reacting, reaching apex and returning to normal . LASEK had slighter intensity of reaction. The results indicate that there is excessive aggradation of collagens after PRK, it may be the histological foundation of obvious haze and myopia regression.
Cui
Xin
X
Department of Ophthalmology, the Third Hospital of the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China. cuixin5316@vip.sina.com
Bai
Ji
J
He
Xiangge
X
Zhang
Yi
Y
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D024062:Collagen Type V / Q000378:metabolism; D024142:Collagen Type VI / Q000378:metabolism; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism*; D048988:Corneal Surgery, Laser; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted; D011817:Rabbits; D014945:Wound Healing
D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D024062:Collagen Type V; D024142:Collagen Type VI; D003094:Collagen