Suture Absorption in Rabbit Cornea and Sclera: Enzyme Histochemical and Morphologic Observations

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Abstract

Plain and chromic size 6-0 ophthalmic catgut sutures were implanted in rabbit cornea, sclera, and ocular muscle. Enzyme histochemical procedures (acid and alkaline phosphatase, adenosine triphosphatase, aminopeptidase, and succinic dehydrogenase) were applied to cryostat sections of the sites at weekly postimplantation intervab between 3 and 60 clays. Tissue reaction and suture absorption rates were also noted. When compared to the findings previously observed in gluteal muscle implants, the corneal sites showed predominant alkaline phosphatase activity and more rapid absorption, whereas the scleral sites provided variable residts. The findings in ocular muscle were similar to those in gluteal muscle implants. A wide morphological variation was observed in the cells invading the body of corneal sutures during absorption, which was completed by 21 days with the plain suture and by 60 days ivith the chromic sample.