title: Effects of nerve growth factor on nerve regeneration after corneal nerve damage.
abstract: The study aims to determine the relation between the effects of mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF) and nerve regeneration after corneal surgery nerve damage. Mechanical nerve injury animal model was established by LASIK (the excimer laser keratomileusis) surgery in 12 Belgian rabbits. mNGF and the balanced salt solution (BBS) were alternatively administered in the left and right eye two times every day for 8 weeks. The morphous and growth of the sub-basal nerve plexus and superficial stroma were observed by in vivo confocal microscopy at the end of weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8 after the surgery. The animal model is successfully established. The morphology and density of corneal nerve have been observed and demonstrated by confocal microscopy. A systematic administration of mNGF can significantly promote the nerve regeneration at the end of weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8, which comparing to the administration of balanced salt solution (P < 0.05). mNGF has effect on sub-basal nerve plexus and superficial stroma after corneal nerve damage which is caused by LASIK. The experimental results suggested that the mNGF may solve the problem of dry eye after LASIK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Laboratories, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Laboratories, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Naihong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Laboratories, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Yongzhi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Laboratories, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Guiqun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Laboratories, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Laboratories, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Yingping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
keywords: LASIK; confocal microscopy; dry eye; mNGF