Changes in distribution of extracellular matrix proteins during wound repair in corneal endothelium

The distribution of fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LM) in non-injured and injured rat corneal endothelium in vivo was investigated by light microscopy using immunoperoxidase cytochemistry. In non-injured tissues, both FN and LM have distinct pericellular staining patterns and exhibit some diffuse cytoplasmic staining. After a circular freeze injury, cells migrating into the wound area at 24 hr lack the characteristic pericellular staining observed in non-injured cells but show cytoplasmic staining for both extracellular matrix glycoproteins. Endothelial cells on the periphery of such preparations do not partake in wound repair and retain their pericellular staining patterns. Forty-eight hours after injury, cells have filled in the wound area but are disorganized. They display intracellular FN and LM staining but do not demonstrate any pericellular staining. When observed 10 days after injury, a uniform monolayer has formed but neither FN nor LM is detected pericellularly. By 14 days post injury, endothelial cells in the wound area display pericellular FN patterns but not LM patterns. This may reflect differences in the function of each glycoprotein in maintaining the attachment of the endothelium to Descemet's membrane.