Effects of salicylate and steroid on neutrophil migration and corneal blood vessel growth.

Cauterization of the cornea results in emigration of neutrophils from the limbal blood vessels into the corneal tissue. Blood vessel proliferation follows, the stimulus for which is unknown. In this study, 0.1 M sodium salicylate drops administered topically to cauterized rat corneas over a 48-h period had an inhibitory effect on the migration of neutrophils from the limbal vessels 6 h after injury, but this was not maintained at 48 h. After 6 days of treatment, the salicylate had no effect on vessel growth into the cauterized rat cornea. Application of prednisolone disodium phosphate ointment to cauterized corneas also inhibited neutrophil migration at 6 h, but increased the extravascular neutrophils at 48 h. After 6 days of treatment, corneal blood vessel growth was significantly reduced. It was concluded that there is no consistent relation between the number of extravascular neutrophils at the corneal limbus and the extent of corneal blood vessel growth.