Expression of Superoxide Dismutase in Alkali-burned Rat Corneal Epithelium.

Park, Young Jin; Paik, Hae Jung

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 1998;39(4):643-648.
Published online April 1, 1998.

Expression of Superoxide Dismutase in Alkali-burned Rat Corneal Epithelium.

Young Jin Park, Hae Jung Paik

Department of Ophthalmology, National Police Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

알칼리화상후 쥐 각막상피세포에서의 Superoxide Dismutase 의 발현 양상

박영진(Young Jin Park),백혜정(Hae Jung Paik)

Abstract

During the acute stage of inflammation such as alkali burn, an intense local oxidation process takes place at the inflammatory foci through production of oxygen-derived free radicals. The extent of tissue damage would be the result of the balance between free radical generated and the local antioxidation defense system. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a major oxygen radical scavenging enzyme. Major active molecule in rat, rabbit and human is known as Cu-Zn SOD. We have been studied the difference of the distribution of SOD between normal and alkali burned rat cornea by immunohistochemical staining method. In normal rat corneal epithelium, the basal and intermediate layer cells exhibited intense intacellular staining, average 4.13 cell layers. In alkali burned rat corneal epithelium, average cell layers of intracelluar staining were 0.73, 2.2, 2.93 at postburn 1 day, 3 dyas, 7 days, respectively. We think these results are mainly due to the increase of oxygen free radical and decreased production of SOD at early postburn period. Therefore, free radical scavenging agent such as SOD may be helpful in would healing of corneal alkali burn.

Key Words: Alkali burn, antioxidant;Immunohistochemistry;Oxygen radical;Superoxide dismutase