ARACHIDONIC-ACID STIMULATES CORNEAL EPITHELIAL MIGRATION

We determined the concentration dependent effects of arachidonic acid between 0.3 and 30x10(-6) M on corneal epithelial migration, in an org an culture system of the rabbit cornea. With 3x10(-6) M arachidonic ac id, corneal epithelial migration was maximally stimulated by 51%. The cyclooxygenase inhibitors, indomethacin, ketoprofen, flurbiprofen and diclofenac sodium also all had a tendency to stimulate corneal epithel ial migration at low concentrations (0.1 or 1X10(-6) M). However, the inhibitory effect of epithelial migration was observed at higher conce ntration (100x10(-6) M) of these compounds. On the other hand the sele ctive 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, AA-861 over a concentration range from 0.1 to 10X10(-6) M maximally inhibited corneal epithelial migration b y 25%. These results suggest that during wound healing some of the inc reased release of arachidonic acid may be derived from a metabolite of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway which may in turn hasten wound closure.