title: The effects of nicergoline on corneal nerve regeneration in rat corneas after photorefractive keratectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We wanted to investigate the effect of nicergoline on corneal nerve regeneration in rat corneas after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into two groups, the control group and the group that had been treated with nicergoline for 4 weeks. Corneal wound healing was evaluated by fluorescein staining after PRK. Immunofluorescent staining was performed in the rat corneas at 1 month after PRK with monoclonal antibodies for class III β-tubulin, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and substance P (SP). The stained nerve areas were calculated using an image-analysis program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The corneal wound healing rate was not significantly different between the nicergoline-treated rats and the control rats after PRK. At 1 month after PRK, the tubulin-positive, substance P-positive, and CGRP-positive nerve areas were significantly greater in the treatment group than those in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nicergoline treatment increased the corneal nerve area in the rats after they had undergone PRK. Nicergoline may help patients who have a decreased corneal sense, such as those with neurotrophic keratopathy and those patients after they undergo refractive surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. cassiopeia-su@hanmail.net
authors.forename: Su-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jiwook
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Young-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D003315:Cornea / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D009530:Nicergoline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009882:Ophthalmic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D014404:Tubulin; D013373:Substance P; D009530:Nicergoline; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide