KERATOCYTE LOSS AND REPOPULATION OF ANTERIOR CORNEAL STROMA AFTER DEEPITHELIALIZATION

Objective: To quantitate corneal keratocyte loss and repopulation of a nterior stroma after de-epithelialization. Methods: Fourteen white New Zealand rabbits, each weighing 2.3 to 3.2 kg, were divided into seven groups. Each rabbit underwent a bilateral 6-mm mechanical deepithelia lization procedure. The rabbits were killed two at a time after 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, and 28 days. The corneas were labeled for mitosis using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine and stained for keratocyte quantification. Thre e untreated rabbits were added as controls. Results: Corneas that were not operated on showed a higher density of keratocyte nuclei within t he anterior corneal stroma than in the posterior stroma. Following de- epithelialization, there was a decrease in the ratio of anterior-poste rior keratocytes, with maximal decrease on the third postoperative day . Keratocyte repopulation was completed by day 14. Mitotic activity wa s seen on days 1, 3, and 6 in the anterior half of the de-epithelializ ed stroma. Conclusions: Anterior stromal keratocytes are lost after ep ithelial removal, but repopulation is complete within 2 weeks. These f indings demonstrate a loss of keratocytes and their recovery after cor neal epithelial removal, as well as an interaction between corneal epi thelium and stroma in rabbits.