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Ascorbic acid phosphate ester and wound healing in rabbit corneal alkali burns: Epithelial basement membrane and stroma

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Abstract

We examined the effect of L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (P-Asc) on the healing of alkali-burned corneas in rabbits. Round filter paper containing 1 N NaOH was applied to the central cornea for 60 or 120 s to produce the alkali burn. Animals were treated with topical saline, 10% ascorbate, or 6.5% P-Asc applied on the cornea. The corneas were then examined histologically. Burned stroma showed no toluidine blue staining, indicating a loss of glycosaminoglycan. In the 60-s burn group, P-Asc reduced the size of the unstained area as compared with the control. Transmission electron microscopy showed basal lamina under new epithelia in the corneas treated with ascorbate or P-Asc, but not in controls. These observations support the theory that P-Asc may have a therapeutic role in the repair of corneal alkali burns.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical College, 7-Bancho 27, 640, Wakayama, Japan

    Shizuya Saika & Kenshiro Uenoyama

  2. Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical College, 7-Bancho 27, 640, Wakayama, Japan

    Kenji Hiroi

  3. Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shimo-Shinjo, 3-9-19, Higashi-Yodogawa Ku, Osaka, 533, Japan

    Hidetoshi Tanioka, Kenji Takase & Mitusi Hikita

Authors
  1. Shizuya Saika
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  2. Kenshiro Uenoyama
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  3. Kenji Hiroi
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  4. Hidetoshi Tanioka
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  5. Kenji Takase
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  6. Mitusi Hikita
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Saika, S., Uenoyama, K., Hiroi, K. et al. Ascorbic acid phosphate ester and wound healing in rabbit corneal alkali burns: Epithelial basement membrane and stroma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 231, 221–227 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00918845

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00918845

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