A Semaphorin 3a Inhibitor Accelerates Cornel Reinnervation Following Penetrating Keratoplasty On Mice

Abstract

Purpose: : The purpose of this study is to elucidate the effect of semaphorin3A inhibitor to use as a therapeutic agent.Penetrating keratoplasty requires a full-thickness 360°corneal incision that cuts corneal nerves and results in complete denervation of the graft. Several studies have reported a marked reduction in corneal sensation after penetrating keratoplasty, and it requires many years to recover the corneal sensation.Recent research has demonstrated that semaphorin3A(Sema3A) is one of the major inhibitors of axonal regeneration, and strong semaphorin3A inhibitor enhances regenerative responses of the injured spinal cord on rats.

Methods: : Sema3A inhibitor is administered by subconjunctival injection every two days after penetraing keratoplasty on mice.

Results: : A dense neuronal network was reconstructed in the graft of sema3A inhibitor group, while only a few nerve fibers were observed in the controls.

Conclusions: : This result supports the possibility of using Sema3A inhibitors in the treatment of neurotropic ulcer following corneal transplantation.

Keywords: cornea: basic science • innervation: sensation