[Changes in proliferation and differentiation of basal cells during wound healing of rabbit corneal epithelial...

Changes in the mitotic rate and epithelial keratin expression of corneal epithelial basal cells following corneal abrasion (7.0 mm in diameter) in rabbits were studied immunohistochemically using antiproliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) monoclonal antibody and anti-epithelial keratin 1 (AE1). In the non-wounded control, the mitotic rate (PCNA positive cells in the basal cell layer) was approximately 4%, and only the superficial cells were stained by AE1 monoclonal antibody. One day after wounding, migrating epithelial cells at the leading edge, which reacted to AE1, showed low mitotic activity. At days 3 and 7, the mitotic rates of basal cells of regenerating epithelium were 3 times higher than that of controls. These basal cells displayed intensive staining with AE1, while the epithelium over the unwounded cornea exhibited a normal pattern limited to superficial cells. By 14 days after injury, the mitotic rate returned to normal and all epithelial cells expressed a normal AE1 staining pattern. Theses results suggest that regeneration of corneal epithelial basal cells involves changes in keratin expression, which might correlate with changes in the mitotic rate.