[Evaluation of the corneal epithelium kinetics using cell proliferation markers].
OBJECTIVE
In order to maintain its clear and uniform structure, the corneal epithelium needs constant equilibrium between production (division) and desquamation of its epithelial cells. The author aimed to evaluate the cell kinetics of corneal epithelium of rabbits in three situations (control, hypoproliferation and hyperproliferation) using BrdU, Ki-67/MIB-1 and AgNORs proliferation markers.


METHODS
Fifteen white female rabbits had their eyes randomly divided into three groups (A, B and. C). Group A included eyes submitted to phosphate buffer saline instillation (total 10 eyes); group B, instillation of phosphate buffer saline after removing a 10 mm central area of the corneal epithelium (total 10 eyes) and group C, instillation of 5-fluorouracil in normal epithelium (total 10 eyes).


RESULTS
The results of the mean number and standard deviation of the marked cells using BrdU in groups A, B e C were, respectively, 7.17 +/- 0.74; 35.00 +/- 3.01 e 0.22 +/- 0.1 marked cells per 100 basal cells. Differences among groups were statistically significant. The mean number and standard deviation of the labelled cells using Ki-67 were 7.55 +/- 1.22 in group A; 35.55 +/- 3.84 in group B and 0.34 +/- 0.14 in group C. Differences among groups were statistically significant. The mean area and standard deviation of NORs in group A were 1.92 +/- 0.24, in group B, 3.61 +/- 0.27 and in group C, 1.71 +/- 0.26.


CONCLUSIONS
The markers BrdU, Ki-67 and AgNOR showed a positive correlation with statistical significance among the cellular proliferation situations studied (control, hypoproliferation and hyperproliferation); the AgNOR did not show statistically significant differences among the control and hypoproliferation situations and there was more agreement in the results among markers BrdU and Ki-67 in three cell proliferation situations.
Cresta
Fernando Betty
FB
Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. fbcresta@yahoo.com
Alves
Milton Ruiz
MR
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D007700:Kinetics; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000737:chemistry; D010710:Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D016622:Silver Staining; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C440408:MIB-1 antibody; D010710:Phosphates; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D005472:Fluorouracil