COMPARATIVE-STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT GROWTH-FACTORS ON MIGRATION OF BOVINE CORNEAL ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS DURING WOUND-HEALING

Purpose: In a comparative study we investigated the effects of epiderm al growth factor, acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor, transform ing growth factor-beta 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor on pr oliferation and migration of cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells during wound healing. Methods: Cell proliferation was determined by i ncorporation of 5-bromo-2'deoxy-uridine and by cell counting, To inves tigate cell migration, we established a method to produce identically shaped cell-free areas in monolayers of cultured cells and documented the wound-healing process. Results: Concerning the five tested growth factors, only epidermal growth factor as well as basic and acidic fibr oblast growth factor stimulated DNA synthesis, cell proliferation, and migration during wound healing, Vascular endothelial growth factor st imulated migration during wound healing without influencing DNA synthe sis or cell proliferation. Conclusion: Whereas epidermal growth factor and the basic and acidic forms of fibroblast growth factor enhance pr oliferation as well as migration during wound healing, vascular endoth elial growth factor seems to be a stimulatory agent specific for corne al endothelial cell migration.