| Effect of Amniotic Membrane on Epithelial Thickness and Formation of Hemidesmosomes after Corneal Stromal Wound. |
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Yong Jun Yun, Joo Young Kwag, Si Hwan Choi |
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Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. shchoi@cnu.ac.kr |
| 각막 기질창상에서 양막이 각막상피두께와 반결합체의 형성에 미치는 영향 |
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윤용준⋅곽주영⋅최시환 |
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Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea |
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| 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. |
| Key Words:
Amniotic membrane;Contact lens;Corneal epithelial thickness;Hemidesmosome |
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