Effect of Na-hyaluronan on stromal and endothelial healing in experimentalcorneal alkali wounds

The healing of stroma and endothelium after a standardized corneal alkali w ound was evaluated in sodium-hyaluronan (Na-HA)-treated eyes. Alkali wounds were produced in one eye of each rabbit by applying a 5.5-mm round filter paper soaked in 1 N NaOH onto the central cornea for 60 s. Eyes were then t reated with either 1% Na-HA (the treatment group) or phosphate-buffered sal ine (the control group) 4 times per day for 3 weeks. Endothelial wound morp hometry was performed after alizarin red and trypan blue staining, while st romal healing was assessed by counting polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and keratocytes in the central and marginal wound areas. During the early h ealing period the stroma treated with Na-HA had less PMNs than that of the control group. The size of the endothelial defect area measured 5 days afte r injury was significantly smaller in the Na-HA group than in the control c orneas. The present findings indicate that topically applied 1% Na-HA affec ts stromal and endothelial healing during the early repair process after co rneal alkali wounds.