Objective: To quantitate corneal keratocyte loss and repopulation of anterior stroma after de-epithelialization.

Methods: Fourteen white New Zealand rabbits, each weighing 2.3 to 3.2 kg, were divided into seven groups. Each rabbit underwent a bilateral 6-mm mechanical deepithelialization procedure. The rabbits were killed two at a time after 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, and 28 days. The corneas were labeled for mitosis using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine and stained for keratocyte quantification. Three untreated rabbits were added as controls.

Results: Corneas that were not operated on showed a higher density of keratocyte nuclei within the anterior corneal stroma than in the posterior stroma. Following de-epithelialization, there was a decrease in the ratio of anterior-posterior keratocytes, with maximal decrease on the third postoperative day. Keratocyte repopulation was completed by day 14. Mitotic activity was seen on days 1, 3, and 6 in the anterior half of the de-epithelialized stroma.

Conclusions: Anterior stromal keratocytes are lost after epithelial removal, but repopulation is complete within 2 weeks. These findings demonstrate a loss of keratocytes and their recovery after corneal epithelial removal, as well as an interaction between corneal epithelium and stroma in rabbits.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archopht.1994.01090190121031DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

keratocyte loss
8
loss repopulation
8
repopulation anterior
8
anterior corneal
8
corneal stroma
8
stroma de-epithelialization
8
epithelial removal
8
keratocyte
5
anterior
5
corneal
5

Similar Publications

Purpose: Although mechanical injury to the cornea (e.g. chronic eye rubbing) is a known risk factor for keratoconus progression, how it contributes to loss of corneal integrity is not known.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-based disease modeling can be successfully recapitulated to mimic disease characteristics across various human pathologies. Glaucoma, a progressive optic neuropathy, primarily affects the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). While multiple groups have successfully generated RGCs from non-diseased hiPSCs, producing RGCs from glaucomatous human samples holds significant promise for understanding disease pathology by revealing patient-specific disease signatures.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: This study investigates the superiority of sterile lyophilized amniotic membrane extract (AME) prepared at a clinically correlated dose over amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in an experimental corneal wound model.

Methods: AME was prepared from a pool of five amniotic membranes. After homogenizing the membranes, they were lyophilized and sterilized by gamma radiation to obtain sterile, lyophilized AME powder.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To compare the corneal biomechanical parameters, visual outcome, and epithelial remodeling after small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for low to moderate myopia.

Design: Prospective, interventional, randomized, comparative study.

Methods: Eighty eyes of 40 patients undergoing bilateral SMILE or PRK for low to moderate myopia (<-5 D SE) were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Pathophysiology of Keratoconus.

Cornea

February 2025

Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ; and.

Purpose: Keratoconus is a progressive disease characterized by changes in corneal shape, resulting in loss of visual function. There remains a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding its underlying pathophysiology. This review aims to bridge this gap by exploring structural failures and inflammatory processes involved in the etiology and progression of keratoconus.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!