The effects of acetylcholine and propolis extract on corneal epithelial wound healing in rats

Ozturk, F Kurt, E Inan, UU Emiroglu, L Ilker, SS

F. Ozturk et al., The effects of acetylcholine and propolis extract on corneal epithelial wound healing in rats, CORNEA, 18(4), 1999, pp. 466-471

59

INGLESE

Article

Optalmology

CORNEA

0277-3740 → ACNP

18

4

1999

466 - 471

ISI

0277-3740(199907)18:4<466:TEOAAP>2.0.ZU;2-Z

Purpose. To investigate the effects of topical acetylcholine and topical ad ministration of propolis, a natural beehive product, on corneal epithelial wound healing. Methods. The whole corneal epithelium was debrided in 42 eye s of 21 rats by mechanical scraping with a dulled scalpel blade. Animals we re divided into three groups. Group 1 received topical 1% water extract of propolis (WEP), group 2 received topical acetylcholine (ACh), and group 3 ( control group) received topical phosphate-buffered saline, 6 times a day fo r 3 days, starting immediately after debridemenl. The area of the corneal e pithelial defect was stained with fluorescein, photographed, and then measu red every 12 h. The mean epithelial defect area and the mean percentage of epithelial defect remaining at each follow-up were compared between the gro ups. Results. The mean epithelial defect area and the mean percentage of ep ithelial defect remaining at each time were significantly smaller (p < 0.00 1, p < 0.05, respectively) in the ACh and propoIis groups as compared with control groups. There was no statistically significant difference between t he propolis or ACh groups at any lime (p > 0.05), At 72 h, the mean percent age of defect remaining was 2.58%, in the ACh group, 1.3% in the propolis-t reated group, and 8.68% in the control group. Conclusions. This study demon strated that ACh and propolis facilitated corneal epithelial wound healing of rats. Although the mechanisms of the effect of propolis on wound healing and its clinical use still remain to be determined, ACh may have a place i n the treatment of corneal epithelial injuries.