Endothelin-1 Enhances Corneal Fibronectin Deposition and Promotes Corneal Epithelial Wound Healing after Photorefractive Keratectomy in Rabbits

The objective was to study the effects of endothelin-1 (ET1) on corneal wound healing after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in rabbit corneas. Following PRK, 18 New Zealand white rabbits were treated with ET1 in the right eyes and with phosphate-buffered salt solution (PBS) in the left eyes. Corneal epithelial wound size, corneal haze and corneal thickness were recorded. Corneal extracellular matrixes, including collagen types 3, 4 and 7, chondroitin sulfate and fibronectin, were investigated using immunohistochemistry study. ET1 increased the rate of healing of corneal epithelial wounds in rabbits. Anti-fibronectin fluorescence was present at week 12 and week 24 in ET1-treated eyes but not in the control eyes. There were no significant differences in corneal haze, corneal thickness and changes in other extracellular matrixes between ET1- and PBS-treated eyes. ET1 can enhance the deposition of fibronectin in corneal stroma and promote corneal epithelial wound healing after PRK. The increase in fibronectin probably explains the increased healing rate of corneal epithelial wounds.