RESUMO
Objective To evaluate the effects of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on corneal neovascularization.Methods Twenty-five Wistar rats were divided into control and experimental groups.Corneal neovascularization (CNV) was induced by alkaline burn of the cornea with 1 mmol/L NaOH.On the 1st,4th,7th,and 14th day,CNV was observed,and the expression of CTGF was investigated with immunohistochemical method in rat cornea at the different time point.Results On the 4th day,7th day and 14th day after alkaline burn,the areas of CNV were (12.740 ±2.536) mm2,(26.068 ± 10.028) mm2,and (37.588 ± 8.066) mm2,respectively.CTGF was rarely expressed in the cornea of normal rats,and then CTFG expression was quickly increased after alkaline burn,reached the highest level on the 4th day (1.714 ± 0.185),and then declined remarkably on the 7th day (1.334 ± 0.198).Conclusions CTGF might be involved in the formation process of corneal neovascularization after corneal alkali burn.