Abstract
Purpose: :
Currently there are no approved drugs which enhance corneal epithelial wound healing. Hyaluronic acid and Panthenol are approved for the therapy of dry eye. Hyaluronic acid is a ligand for the cell surface adhesion molecule CD44 and by this enhances the migration of corneal epithelial cells. In organisms Panthenol becomes quickly oxidized to pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) which is used in the synthesis of coenzyme A and thus is crucial for metabolic functions. Aim of this study was to test the effect of hyaluronic acid, Panthenol and its combination in a mouse model of corneal erosion.
Methods: :
C57BL/6 mice (age: 6-8 weeks, n=16 per group) were used in all experiments. The central corneal epithelium was demarcated with a 2 mm trephine and subsequently removed using a blade. Corneas were stained with fluorescein. Pictures were taken under blue light directly after removal of the epithelium and 24 hrs thereafter. 0,1% hyaluronic acid, 2% Panthenol and the combination of 0,1% hyaluronic acid and 2% Panthenol (Hylo-Care®) were tested (eye drops, 5µl, 12x/day). 0.9% NaCl was used as negative control. Pictures were analysed by using the software Cell^F (Olympus, Hamburg, Germany).
Results: :
The re-epithelization was accelerated when compared to 0.9% NaCl in all corneas. The remaining site of the epithelial defect after 24 hrs was 12.68% + 9.53 (p<0.001) for Hylo-Care®, 14.77% + 13.72 (p<0.001) for hyaluronic acid and 23.92% + 23.94 (p<0.012) for Panthenol.
Conclusions: :
Both hyaluronic acid and Panthenol are effective for the therapy of corneal epithelial defects. This effect seems to be additive in the combination of the active components.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • wound healing • cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye