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Updated: May 22, 2026
A Mouse Model for Corneal Neovascularization by Alkali Burn
Published on: June 30, 2023
β-catenin expression in rat neovascularized cornea after alkali burn
Li Wang1, Ming-Chang Zhang, Ying Zhang
1Department of Ophthalmology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen 518026, Guangdong Prvince, China.
Aim:
To investigate the expression of β-catenin in cornea after alkali burn and explore its role in cornea neovascularization (CNV).
Methods:
CNV model was established by putting filter paper with the size of 3.0mm in diameter immersed in 1mol/L NaOH solution on the left cornea of rat for 20 seconds. Twenty-five Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: post-operation 1-, 4-, 7-, 14- and 21-day groups while the right eyes as normal control group. The expression level of β-catenin protein, mRNA and VEGF were determined at the 1(st), 4(th), 7(th), 14(th) and 21(st) day following the establishment of model by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical technique.
Results:
No expression of β-catenin immunoreactivity was detected in normal cornea. The expressions of β-catenin and VEGF both reached the peak at the 4(th) and 7(th) day and gradually decreased to near baseline 21 days later. Alteration of β-catenin and VEGF levels showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.855, P<0.05).
Conclusion:
The levels of β-catenin are markedly related to inflammatory CNV in rat cornea after alkali burn.
