Long term observation of ocular surface alkali burn in rabbit models: Quantitative analysis of corneal haze, vascularity and self-recovery.
Exp Eye Res
; 205: 108526, 2021 04.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33662355
ABSTRACT
Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD), caused due to corneal injury, primarily by chemical/alkali burns, leads to compromised vision. Recently, several animal models of corneal alkali burn injury have become available. The majority of the studies with these animal models start interventions soon after the injury. However, in the clinical setting, there is a considerable delay before the intervention is initiated. Detailed knowledge of the molecular, histopathological, and clinical parameters associated with the progression of the injury leading to LSCD is highly desirable. In this context, we set out to investigate clinical, histopathological parameters of ocular surface alkali burn over a long period of time, post-injury. Limbal stem cell-deficient animal models of rabbits were created by alkali burn using sodium hydroxide, which was then assessed for their progression towards LSCD by grading the alkali burn, corneal haze, and vascularization. Additionally, cells present on the corneal surface after the burn was investigated by histology and immunophenotyping. Grading of rabbit eyes post-alkali burn had shown complete conjunctivalization in 80% (n = 12/15) of the rabbits with the alkali burn grade score of 3.88 ± 0.29 in three months and remained stable at four months (4.12 ± 0.24). However, ocular surface showed self-healing in 20% (n = 3/15) of the rabbits with a score of 1.67 ± 0.34 in four months irrespective of similar alkali injury. These self-healing corneas exhibited decreased opacity score from 2.51 ± 0.39 to 0.66 ± 0.22 (p = 0.002) and regressed vascularity from 1.66 ± 0.41 to 0.66 ± 0.33 in one to nine months, respectively. Restoration of the corneal phenotype (CK3+) was observed in central and mid-peripheral regions of the self-healing corneas, and histology revealed the localization of inflammatory cells to the peripheral cornea when compared to conjunctivalized and scarred LSCD eyes. Our study shows the essentiality to consider the time required for surgical intervention after the corneal alkali injury in rabbit models as evident from their tendency to self-heal and restore corneal phenotype without therapy. Such information on the possibility of self-healing should be useful in further studies as well as determining interventional timings and strategy during clinical presentation of corneal alkali burns.
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Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Hidróxido de Sodio
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Quemaduras Químicas
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Quemaduras Oculares
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Neovascularización de la Córnea
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Opacidad de la Córnea
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Recuperación de la Función
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Lesiones de la Cornea
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Exp Eye Res
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
India