Effect of Amniotic Membrane on Epithelial Thickness and Formation of Hemidesmosomes after Corneal Stromal Wound.
10.3341/jkos.2011.52.5.589
- Author:
Yong Jun YUN
1
;
Joo Young KWAG
;
Si Hwan CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. shchoi@cnu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Amniotic membrane;
Contact lens;
Corneal epithelial thickness;
Hemidesmosome
- MeSH:
Amnion;
Cornea;
Electrons;
Epithelium, Corneal;
Hemidesmosomes;
Wound Healing
- From:Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society
2011;52(5):589-596
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of an amniotic membrane patch on corneal epithelial thickness and formation of hemidesmosomes during corneal stromal wound healing. METHODS: A stromal wound 9 mm in diameter and 130 microm in depth was created on rabbit cornea using a microkeratome. The changes in corneal epithelial thickness and hemidesmosome formations were compared between the amniotic membrane, contact lens, and control groups. Changes in the corneal epithelium were examined using H&E staining and hemidesmosome formation was examined using an electron microscope at 2 and 4 weeks after flap removal. RESULTS: Two weeks after treatment, the corneal epithelial thickness was 95.3 +/- 6.3 microm in the amniotic membrane group being significantly thicker than 76.4 +/- 5.1 microm in the contact lens group and 68.3 +/- 6.1 microm in the control group. Furthermore, more hemidesmosome formations were observed in the amniotic membrane group compared to the other 2 groups. However, there were no significant differences in corneal epithelial thickness or hemidesmosome formation among the 3 groups at week 4. CONCLUSIONS: The amniotic membrane group showed a thicker corneal epithelium and more hemidesmosome formation than the other 2 groups 2 weeks after flap removal. Thus, the use of an amniotic membrane patch appears to be effective in the early stages of corneal stromal wound healing.
