The Effects of Amniotic Membrane Ointment Application on Photore fractive Keratectomized Cornea in Rabbits

ABSTRACT

The authors investigated the effects of amniotic membrane ointment on inflammatory cell infiltration into corneal stroma, early keratocyte and inflammatory cell apoptosis and lipid peroxidation of cell membrane after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in rabbits. PRK was performed on both eye of 10 white rabbits, then we applied amniotic membrane ointment on one eye and ointment base on the other eye, three times a day, respectively. All corneas were harvested after 24 hours. Hematoxylineosin (H&E) stains for polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) infiltration, terminal deozyribonucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) stains for keratocyte apoptosis and malondialdehyde (MDA) immunohistochemical stains for lipid peroxidation were performed. In amniotic membrane ointment applicated group, PMNs in corneal stroma, TUNEL stain positive cells and degree of lipid peroxidation were significantly less than those of base ointment applicated group (P<0.05). Therefore, those findings may be able to utilize as basic data for clinical use of amniotic membrane ointment.