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Proteoglycan alterations in the rabbit corneal stroma after a lamellar incision
Andrew J Quantock1, Sara Padroni, Che J Connon
1Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, United Kingdom. QuantockAJ@cf.ac.uk
Purpose:
To investigate proteoglycans under minimally damaged epithelium after a lamellar microkeratome incision.
Setting:
Collaborating university departments.
Methods:
Anterior lamellar caps were excised from rabbit corneas and then resutured in place. Healing tissue was examined by electron microscopy with proteoglycan staining.
Results:
In the weeks after surgery, regions of disorganized stromal matrix were populated by sulfated proteoglycan filaments that were much larger (up to 300 nm long) than those in quiescent stroma.
Conclusions:
Large, sulfated proteoglycans existed in rabbit corneas healing from lamellar incisions. These molecules appear to be a normal feature of corneal wound healing; because of their water-binding capacity, they might aid tissue restructuring.