The healing mechanism of corneal endothelium after
alkali burn was not completely understood. Rabbit cornea was burned with 1N
sodium hydxoside for 1 minute. Endothelial
F-actin was stained with NBD-
phallacidin in regular sequence to find out the details of endothelial healing after
alkali burn.
F-actin was completely destroyed leaving a sharp margin against the unaffected area 1 hour after the
burn. In the 3, 5 and 7 day specimens, highly active
F-actin reactions were noted at the
wound margin. New multiple
F-actin layers, arising from the intact endothelium near the
wound margin, were noted in the 9 day specimen. In the 8 1/2 month specimen, the endothelial defected area was covered by large primitive cells, each of which showed
F-actin fiber bundles in the cytoplasm with a large nuclear shadow. Nearly all of the large primitive cells showed
F-actin fibers arranged in shapes of cell junctions. Twelve months after the
burn, endothelial defects were not found. Nearly all of the endothelial cells were normal in size and shape except for some mushroom-like projections toward the anterior chamber in some areas. Nineteen months after the
burn, the endothelial cells were normal. Endothelial wound healing process can be continued even 1 year after the
alkali burn in rabbit cornea.