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Published on: January 6, 2023
Effects of nicergoline on corneal epithelial wound healing in rat eyes
Su-Young Kim1, Jun-Sub Choi, Choun-Ki Joo
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Purpose:
To investigate the effect of nicergoline on corneal epithelial wound healing in rats.
Methods:
One hundred Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into two groups, the control group and the nicergoline-treated group, for 2 weeks. Corneal wound healing was evaluated by fluorescein staining after epithelial debridement. Nerve growth factor (NGF) protein and NGF mRNA were measured in rat corneas by ELISA and RT-PCR. NGF concentration of lacrimal gland was also evaluated by means of ELISA. Immunofluorescent staining was performed in rat corneas.
Results:
The corneal wound healing rate was increased in nicergoline-treated rats compared with control rats after debridement. Twenty-four hours after epithelial debridement, corneal NGF protein and NGF mRNA levels were higher in the nicergoline-treated group than in the control group. Immunofluorescent staining showed that NGF staining was stronger in nicergoline-treated corneas than in control corneas 24 hours after epithelial debridement. In addition, NGF concentrations in lacrimal glands of the nicergoline-treated group were significantly higher than in the control group 24 hours after epithelial debridement.
Conclusions:
Nicergoline accelerated wound healing in rat corneas. The promoting effect of nicergoline in corneal wound healing is likely to be related to increased NGF in corneas and lacrimal glands.
