Topical fibronectin and corneal epithelial wound healing in the rabbit
C. Newton, D. L. Hatchell, G. K. Klintworth and C. F. Brown
Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
The effect of topically administered rabbit fibronectin on the rate of
corneal epithelial wound healing was assessed in rabbits. Two types of
epithelial defects were created, a "standard" 7-mm-diameter scraped central
wound and a "persistent epithelial wound" secondary to postscraping
application of alcian blue. In a masked fashion, eyes were treated with
either fibronectin or balanced salt solution. Areas of the photographically
documented fluorescein-stained defects were measured by computerized
planimetry. The mean healing rate in fibronectin-treated eyes with standard
wounds was linear but not significantly different from the rate in control
eyes. The healing rate in persistent epithelial wounds treated with
fibronectin was slower than that in standard wounds and was not linear, but
it was not statistically significantly different from that of control eyes
with persistent epithelial wounds. These results conflict with those of
previous studies and indicate that the topical application of fibronectin
in rabbits does not necessarily promote corneal epithelial wound healing.
