The Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor on Cornea Epithelial Wound Healing in Excimer Laser Keratectomized Rabbits

ABSTRACT

Epidermal growth factor(EGF), which exists as a constant component of human fluid, was known to stimulate the proliferation and migration of corneal epithelial cells. We investigated the effect of EGF on cornea epithelial wound healing after excimer laser keratectomy. The corneal wound healing was evaluated at every 6 hours on 30 rabbit eyes (5 group) exposed to different EGF concentrations during the organ culture. The results obtained are as follows The area of epithelial defect was significantly smaller in the EGF treated groups as compared with the control group. However, there was no statistical difference in the area of epithelial defect among the different concentrations of the EGF treated group. The rates of the wound healing in the EGF treated groups seem to be faster than the control group, however, it was statistically insignificant. At 6 and 12 hours after the culture, the rates of wound healing of all the EGF treated group were significantly faster than thouse of the control group. Therefore, the exogenous EGF was found to be effective on the experimental cornea epithelial wound healing after excimer laser keratectomy, showing its maximal effect at 12 hours after treatment.