Inhibitory effect of polysulfated heparin endostatin on alkali burn induced corneal neovascularization in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate anti-angiogenic effects of polysulfated heparin endostatin (PSH-ES) on alkali burn induced corneal neovascularization (NV) in rabbits.


METHODS
An alkali burn was made on rabbit corneas to induce corneal NV in the right eye of 24 rabbits. One day after burn creation, a 0.2 mL subconjunctival injection of 50 µg/mL PSH-ES, 50 µg/mL recombinant endostatin (ES), or normal saline was administered every other day for a total of 14d (7 injections). Histology and immunohistochemisty were used to examine corneas. Corneal NV growth was evaluated as microvessel quantity and corneal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was measured by immunohistochemical assay.


RESULTS
Subconjunctival injection of ES and PSH-ES resulted in significant corneal NV suppression, but PSH-ES had a more powerful anti-angiogenic effect than ES. Mean VEGF concentration in PSH-ES treated corneas was significantly lower than in ES treated and saline treated corneas. Histological examination showed that corneas treated with either PSH-ES or ES had significantly fewer microvessels than eyes treated with saline. Additionally corneas treated with PSH-ES had significantly fewer microvessels than corneas treated with ES.


CONCLUSIONS
Both PSH-ES and recombinant ES effectively inhibit corneal NV induced by alkali burn. However, PSH-ES is a more powerful anti-angiogenic agent than ES. This research has the potential to provide a new treatment option for preventing and treating corneal NV.
Department of Ophthalmology, The Second People's Hospital of Jinan, Jinan 250001, Shandong Province, China.
Zhao-Na
ZN
Li
Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250013, Shandong Province, China.
Zhong-Fang
ZF
Yuan
Department of Ophthalmology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China.
Guo-Ying
GY
Mu
Department of Ophthalmology, The Second People's Hospital of Jinan, Jinan 250001, Shandong Province, China.
Ming
M
Hu
Department of Ophthalmology, The Second People's Hospital of Jinan, Jinan 250001, Shandong Province, China.
Li-Jun
LJ
Cao
Department of Ophthalmology, The Second People's Hospital of Jinan, Jinan 250001, Shandong Province, China.
Ya-Li
YL
Zhang
Department of Ophthalmology, The Second People's Hospital of Jinan, Jinan 250001, Shandong Province, China.
Lei
L
Liu
Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China.
Ming-Xu
MX
Ge
chemical burns; corneal neovascularization; polysulfated heparin endostatin; rabbits