Chan-Ling T, Tervo K, Tervo T, Vannas A, Holden B A, Eranko L
Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit, School of Optometry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1987 Dec;28(12):2083-8.
Penetrating 180 degrees superior limbal incisions were made on the right eye of four adult New Zealand albino rabbits. The contralateral eye served as control. Corneal touch thresholds (CTT) for the central, superior and inferior cornea (2-3 mm from limbus) were determined 3, 9, 15, 24 and 30 months after surgery. In all animals, the CTT was significantly elevated in the superior region of the cornea throughout the measurement period. CTT was elevated in the central and inferior cornea 3 months following surgery and was not affected in the inferior cornea on all other occasions. The animals were then sacrificed and the corneas subjected to histochemical demonstration of acetylcholinesterase corneal nerves. All rabbits showed a reduction in the number of histochemically detectable stromal nerve trunks in the operated region. These stromal nerve trunks showed regenerative changes including abnormally curved course and a subnormal number of axons within a nerve trunk. Epithelial nerve fiber defects included absence or distorted architecture of the basal epithelial plexus and intra-epithelial terminals. These results indicate that although extensive stromal reinnervation had occurred, the extent and quality of stromal nerves was inadequate to restore a normal epithelial plexus and corneal sensitivity.
在4只成年新西兰白化兔的右眼制作180度穿透性角膜缘上方切口。对侧眼作为对照。在术后3、9、15、24和30个月测定中央、上方和下方角膜（距角膜缘2 - 3毫米）的角膜触觉阈值（CTT）。在所有动物中，在整个测量期间角膜上方区域的CTT显著升高。术后3个月中央和下方角膜的CTT升高，在其他所有情况下下方角膜均未受影响。然后处死动物，对角膜进行乙酰胆碱酯酶角膜神经的组织化学显示。所有兔子手术区域内组织化学可检测到的基质神经干数量均减少。这些基质神经干呈现再生变化，包括走行异常弯曲以及神经干内轴突数量低于正常。上皮神经纤维缺陷包括基底上皮丛缺失或结构扭曲以及上皮内终末。这些结果表明，尽管发生了广泛的基质再神经支配，但基质神经的范围和质量不足以恢复正常的上皮丛和角膜敏感性。
