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Abstract
Purified epidermal growth factor (EGF), isolated from mice submaxillary glands, was used to study regeneration of rabbit corneal epithelium. The progressive decrease in area of standardized 7 mm. central comeal epithelial wounds was determined by serial standardized photography. The projected fluorescein-stained area was measured by planimetry. It has been found that EGF in the concentrations studied (0.05 mg. per milliliter; 0.5 mg. per milliliter; and 2.0 mg. per milliliter) when given topically four times daily, increased the corneal epithelial healing rate compared to saline controls. A 40-fold variation of EGF concentrations failed to effect a statistically significant change in corneal epithelial healing rate. No sign of toxicity was detected clinically and histologically with topical application of EGF on rabbit corneas with intact epithelium and on corneas denuded of epithelium