ABSTRACT

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the clinical and histopathological effects of corneal cross-linking (CXL) and matrix-regenerating agent (RGTA) treatments after corneal alkali burn.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-four alkali-burned corneas from 24 rabbits were divided into three groups: control, CXL, and RGTA. All animals were investigated for epithelial healing, opacification, ulceration, and neovascularization at days 1, 7, 14, and 21 after the alkali burn. Corneas were excised and sent for histological examination on day 21.

Results

One animal each from the CXL and control groups exhibited moderate ulceration, while no ulceration was observed in the RGTA group. No significant difference was observed among the groups in corneal thickness or corneal opacity measurements at the final visit (p = .058 and p = .544, respectively). Both RGTA and CXL treatments were effective in terms of epithelial healing and neovascularization (p = .023 and p = .03, respectively). On histological examination, the CXL and RGTA groups were more effective in treating epithelial loss, stromal edema, corneal vascularization, and leukocytic infiltration than the control group (p < .05). The immunohistochemical staining scores of the CXL and RGTA groups for caspase-3, vascular endothelial growth factor, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the epithelium and stroma were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < .05). In the immunohistochemical examination for inducible nitric oxide synthase, epithelial staining scores were similar among the groups (p > .05). In contrast, the stromal staining scores of the CXL and RGTA groups were lower than those of the control group (p < .05).

Conclusion

Both CXL and RGTA therapies were effective in reducing anatomical and histopathological complications after corneal alkali burn. Further investigation is needed to determine the optimal timing, duration, and dosage of these treatments.

中文翻译：

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碱烧伤兔实验模型中基质再生剂与角膜交联的比较分析

摘要

目的

本研究旨在探讨角膜碱烧伤后角膜交联 (CXL) 和基质再生剂 (RGTA) 治疗的临床和组织病理学影响。

材料和方法

将来自 24 只兔子的 24 只碱灼伤角膜分为三组：对照组、CXL 和 RGTA。在碱烧伤后的第 1、7、14 和 21 天，研究所有动物的上皮愈合、混浊、溃疡和新血管形成。在第 21 天切除角膜并送去进行组织学检查。

结果

CXL 组和对照组各有一只动物表现出中度溃疡，而 RGTA 组未观察到溃疡。在最后一次访问时，各组之间的角膜厚度或角膜混浊度测量值未观察到显着差异（分别为p = .058 和p = .544 ）。RGTA 和 CXL 治疗在上皮愈合和新生血管形成方面均有效（分别为p = .023 和p = .03）。在组织学检查中，CXL和RGTA组在治疗上皮丢失、基质水肿、角膜血管化和白细胞浸润方面比对照组更有效（p< .05)。CXL和RGTA组上皮和间质中caspase-3、血管内皮生长因子和基质金属蛋白酶9的免疫组化染色评分显着低于对照组（p < .05）。在诱导型一氧化氮合酶免疫组化检查中，各组上皮染色评分相似（p > .05）。相比之下，CXL 和 RGTA 组的基质染色评分低于对照组（p < .05）。

结论

CXL 和 RGTA 疗法均能有效减少角膜碱烧伤后的解剖学和组织病理学并发症。需要进一步调查以确定这些治疗的最佳时间、持续时间和剂量。