The Effect of 0/1% Dexamethasone on Repair Process of Eithelial Basement Membrane after Corneal Alkali Wounds: Electron Microscoic Examination

ABSTRACT

An intact basement membrane which provides a firm attachment of basal epithelial cells to the maintain the corneal integrity in alkali wound healing. Despite many therapeutic trials tested, the fate of present investigation, the repair process of basal epithelium and its basement membrane was evaluated morphologically by utilizing a transmission electron microscope. New Zealand white rabbits, weighing 2.5kg, total of 16(16 eyes), were used in this experiment. Initial epithelial wounds were induced by applying a 5.5mm round filter paper, soaked in 1N NaOH, put on the central cornea for 60 seconds. Animals were divided into two groups and treated with 0.1% dexamethasone in the treated group and with balanced salt solution(BSS) in the control eyes q,i,d. for 8 weeks;. In control eyes, the basement membrane started focal disruption at 2 days, became the worst state at 4 weeks, and regained the normal integrity at 8 weeks after initial alkai damage, In dexamethansone-treated eyes. the basement membrance structure was fairly well visible up to 4 weeks and was almost completely disappeared at 8 weeks after intial alkali wounds.