[Role of the parasympathetic nervous system in cell proliferation of the corneal epithelium of rats after submandibular gland injury].

A study was made of the effect of cholinergic nerves on proliferation of epithelial cells of the cornea. Two series of experiments on 89 anesthetized Wistar rats were made to define that the blockade of the cholinergic neurons with botulinum toxin and that of tissue M-cholinoreceptors with atropine increased the mitotic index. Upon formation of humoral growth stimulators during submaxillary gland injury (SGI), the stimulating effect of atropine was further potentiated. At the same time stimulation of M-cholinoreceptors with pilocarpine lowered the magnitude of the mitotic index of the cornea cells. During SGI injury administration of pilocarpine noticeably decreased the proliferation rate. Thus the stimulation of cholinergic innervation inhibited the rate of tissue proliferation. It is suggested that during operations on the internal organs and vegetative dystonia the proliferation pattern of the cornea cell might vary which should be taken into consideration in experimental and clinical studies.