Experimental study on rat corneal endothelial damage and repair after acid burn / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effect of acid burn on rat corneal endothelial damage and its repair.Methods The model of mild,moderate and severe acid burn in cornea was established in 90 Long-Evans rats(n=30 for each degree of acid burn) with 4 rats served as normal controls.Corneal edema,opacity and the healing of epithelium were observed with a slit lamp microscope.The corneal endothelium from half rats of each degree acid burn was stained with trypan blue and alizarin red,and that from the other half with hematoxylin and eosin(HE) immediately,30 min,1,3,7,14,21,28 d after cautery.The endothelial damage and its repair were observed and the number of the leucocytes in cornea was calculated under light microscope.Results No damage was seen in the corneal endothelial cells of mild,moderate acid burn,only a few leucocytes could be seen in the cornea,and the healing of epithelium,the regression of edema were within 7 d.The endothelial cells necrosed and shedded in the wound area by severe acid burn.The endothelial cells in the margin were deformed,elongated and slided to the damaged area during repair,and a great number of leucocytes infiltrated,the healing of corneal epithelium was delayed,the regression of edema was up to 28 d.Conclusion The corneal endothelial cells were damaged in severe acid burn.The secondary inflammatory reaction took part in the damage of corneal endothelial cells after severe acid burn.The damage of endothelial cells delayed the healing of corneal ulcer and edema.