gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

Correlation of post-PRK inflammation and keratan-sulfate distribution in the rabbit cornea

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author M. Resch - 1st Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
  • Z. Z. Nagy - 1st Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
  • N. Szentmáry - 1st Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
  • M. Máthé - 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest
  • I. Kovalszky - 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest
  • I. Süveges - 1st Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogDO.12.03

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog103.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Resch et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

Text

Objective

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) provides a modell of well dosable superficial injury of the cornea. Excimer laser PRK causes transient inflammation and the destruction of the extracellular matrix (ECM). We present histological and immunohistochemical results that look for correlation between inflammatory response and keratan sulfat (KS) distribution in the cornea.

Methods

PRK (-6.0 diopter, 6.0 mm diameter, 82 µm photoablation depth) was carried out on the right eye of 24 New Zealand coloured rabbits with the Asclepion Meditec MEL 70G-scan excimer laser. Enucleation of both eyes was performed in the following order: at 4 hours, days 1, 4, 7, 14, 28 and months 2, 3; sub-groups of 3 animals). Cornea was prepared to HE light microscopy for inflammatory cell evaluation; and to monoclonal mouse anti-keratan-sulfate antibody fluorescent immunohistochemistry. The left, untreated eyes served as controls. Inflammatory cell density in high-power field (HPF) was counted, spatial distribution of KS was recorded.

Results

Inflammatory cells appeared from the tear film on the surface of the deepithelised corneal stroma at 4 hours penetrated into the anterior stroma at day 1. At day 4 approximately 50% of the stroma was infiltrated. After one week inflammation gradually decreased, at week 2 almost disappeared. After one month no inflammatory cell was observable. In the stroma KS was present in 3 phases: Phase 1 (from hour 4 to day 14): diffuse, than granular formed staining in the hypocellular anterior stroma. Phase 2 (month 1-2): newly synthesized lamellar KS staining replaced the repopulating anterior stroma. Phase 3 (month 2-3): remodelling and deposition of KS, which was produced in phase 2.

Conclusions

Inflammatory cells appeared from the tear film as early as 4 hours after PRK. Later penetration into the anterior stroma was observed, cell density peaked at 4 days. Early presence of KS is a destruction product of the preexisting ECM. KS production started 14-28 days after PRK, when inflammatory cells were no more present. Activation of KS production and a consecutive remodelling of ECM was found after the cellular inflammatory reaction.