Abstract
Purpose: :
The aim of the present work is to investigate the issue of corneal angiogenesis in ocular surfaces. We evaluated the increased corneal angiogenesis in the cardiac- specific muscle LIM protein FHL2 deficiency mice.
Methods: :
We compared the corneal angiogenesis between the FHL2 knockout mice and wild type mice by using the chemical (NaOH) injury in the central corneal area. After soaking NaOH for 1 minute, the injuried cornea was washed by PBS buffered. The new growth vessels were observed and recorded by dissecting microscope. The VEGF and Cox-2 were evaluated by the methods of immunohistochemistry and western blot.
Results: :
Significant increased corneal vessels were formed on the FHL2 knockout mice. The western blot results showed that the VEGF and Cox-2 protein were upregulated by the chemical injury in the FHL2 knockout mice. Immunohistocytochemistry showed that the VEGF and Cox-2 protein were over-expressed on the corneal tissue.
Conclusions: :
We conclude that the increased inflammatory corneal angiogenesis in the FHL2 knockout mice by the chemical injury.
Keywords: cornea: basic science • neovascularization • inflammation