INFLUENCE OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR ON BOVINE CORNEAL ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS IN A WOUND-HEALING MODEL

In this study we determined the influence of vascular endothelial grow th factor (VEGF) on bovine corneal endothelial cell proliferation and wound healing. Proliferation was determined by measurement of DNA repl ication as well as by counting of the number of cells present after a defined growth period. In a wound-healing model, reproducible cell-fre e areas were created within monolayers of cultured bovine corneal endo thelial cells and the migration of the cells into these areas was anal yzed. The DNA replication and cell proliferation of bovine corneal end othelial cells were not influenced by VEGF. In contrast, in the wound- healing model, VEGF supplementation at concentrations of 1 and 10 ng/m l increased the cell density of the wounded area by 20% and 50%, respe ctively, as compared with the cell density of wounds left untreated by VEGF. Furthermore, no increase in DNA replication was found in cells involved in wound healing. Our results demonstrate that healing of bov ine corneal endothelial cell layers after wounding is predominantly pe r formed by cell migration rather than by proliferation. This migratio n can be stimulated by the addition of exogenous VEGF.