ABSTRACT
Background Infective keratopathy is a key cause of corneal blindness in China,and fungal keratitis is proved to have a higher incidence and bigger threats in infective keratitis.Researches showed that topical immunology plays an important effect during the development of fungal keratitis,but its mechanism is still studying.Objective This experiment was to explore the critical immunocyte during the process of fungal keratitis.Methods Forty-eight SPF 12-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were included and randomized into the control group and model group.The fungal keratitis model closely mimicking human cornea infections was established in the mouse using scratch followed by incubation of fusarium solani on the cornea,and the mice in the control group scratched on the cornea only.Cornea was examined under the slit lamp at 0,6,9,12,24,72 and 120 hours after operation.The severity of keratomycosis was clinically scored based on the literature criteria.The inflammatory cells were identified using immnofluorescence label,and the number of the inflammatory cells was calculated and compared among different groups and time points.This study complied with the Statement of ARVO in the use of experimental animal.Both Experimental Animal Ethic Commission in Zhengzhou University and Life Science Management Commission approved this study proposal.Results After inoculation of fusarium solani,typical fungul keratitis signs were seen on the cornea.Severe corneal opacifieation occurred within 24 hours and peaked at 72 hours.However,only mild edema of cornea was exhibited and gradually recovered normal in the control group within 24 hours.The clinical score of inflammation was higher in the model group in various time points than that in the control group,and it was seen that 24-72 hours after operation,the score attached peak in the model group with a significant difference in comparison with the control group(P＜0.01).In 9,12,24,72 and 120 hours after operation,the number of neutrophil cells was significantly increased in the model group compared with control group (P＜0.05),and that in 12,24,72 hours after operation was significantly higher than the 6 hours(P=0.004,0.000,0.001).However,no significant differences were seen in the number of neutrophil cells between 9 or 120 hours and 6 hours after operation(P=0.772,0.323).The number of T lymphocytes in cornea was significantly increased in 72 and 120 hours in comparison with 6 hours in the model group(P=0.000,0.000),and from 72 to 120 hours after operation,the number of T lymphocytes was significantly higher than that of the contral group (P＜0.01).The neutrophil cell number was positive correlated with the inflammatory score in the early phase (r =0.593,P =0.000).T limphocyte emerged in late phase but no significant correlation with the clinical score (r＝0.315,P=0.062).Conclusions Neutrophil cells play a critical role in the development of fungal keratitis in early stage.
ABSTRACT
Background The ocular nerve of trigeminus is the sensation and nutrition nerve of cornea.Whether trigeminal neuralgia affect the function of ocular surface and the morphology of corneal nerve plexus or not is below understanding.Confocal microscope is a non-invasive method for in vivo corneal examination.Objective This study was to analyze the ocular surface findings and observe the morphology and density of corneal nerve under the confocal microscopy in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.Methods Thirty-three eyes of 33 patients with trigeminal neuralgia were collected from the Department of Pain Management in Henan Provincial People's Hospital.The corneal perceptual sensitivity was examined using corneal aesthesiometer,and the function of lacrimal secretion (Schiemer Ⅰtest),tear break-up time (BUT) were performed to evaluate the influence of trigeminal neuralgia on ocular surface.The change of corneal nerve was observed under the confocal microscopy.The fellow eyes served as controls.The informed consent was obtained from the subjects before any examination.Results The fiber length of corneal perceptual sensitivity was (54.348±6.793)mm and (55.217±6.480)mm in trigeminal neuralgia group and control group without a significant difference between them (t=0.641,P=0.528).No significant differences were found in the mean value of Schiemer Ⅰtest (9.390±6.583mm vs 9.300±5.295mm) and BUT result (6.09±4.177s vs 6.13±4.799s) between trigeminal neuralgia and control group(t=0.070,P=0.945;t=-0.085,P=0.933).The densities value of corneal subepithelial nerve plexus at the nasal,temporal,superior,inferior and central area was insignificantly changed between trigeminal neuralgia group and control group(P=0.840,0.459,0.268,0.120,0.607).Tenuous,bending and circling nerve fibers were seen in corneal stroma under the confocal microscope,while the nerve fibers were strict in controls.Conclusion Trigeminal neuralgia does not dramatically affect eye surface function and corneal subbasal nerve plexus density,but corneal nerve fibers with trigeminal neuralgia are more bending than normal people.