Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate the role of BPC 157 in corneal epithelial wounds healing in rats. Methods: 92 albino Wistar rats, 200 g b.w. were divided in 4 groups ( A, B, C, D ) each containing 23 animals. After intraperitoneal and topical anesthesia, circular lesions were induced to the right eye by abrading corneal epithelium with surgical lancet under surgical microscope leaving 1 mm of non-abraded epithelial ring adjacent to the limbus. Injuries were stained with standard florescein and photographed. Immediately after injuries were induced and photographed, the animals were administered eye drops as follows: group A (control group) - 0.9 % NaCl (2 drops), group B - BPC 157 2pg/ml dissolved in 0.9% NaCl (2 drops), group C- BPC 157 2 ng/ml in 0.9% NaCl (2 drops), group D-BPC 157 2µg in 0.9% NaCl (2 drops). Drops were applied during a 24 h period at 0 h, 8 h, 16 h, 24 h. Lesions were stained and photographed every 8 hours: at 0 hours (induction), 8 h, 16 h, 24 h and 32 h after induction prior to treatment. The pictures were analyzed using VAMS , an image analysis system. The size of the epithelial injury area at a particular time (8,16,24,32 h) was shown as a percentage of the injury area size at time 0h (100 % -the basic starting value) for every animal in every group. Data was then compared between groups to see whether there was a difference in healing area size. Results: Quite extensive lesions were induced in all rats before therapy initiation. Even at the earliest assessment point 8 hours after injury was induced, lesions became smaller, in all groups. When compared to the control group lesions were significantly smaller in groups C and D. Also assessed at later intervals at 16 h, 24 h and 32 h after injury was induced, lesions were significantly smaller in pentadecapeptide BPC 157 rats treated with µg and ng solutions (groups C and D). Conclusions: BPC 157 was shown to be effective in promoting corneal epithelial injury healing in rats. The results were dose dependent.
Keywords: pharmacology • cornea: epithelium • wound healing