Abstract

• The effect of Na-Hyaluronan(Na-HA) on hemidesmosome morphogenesis was evaluated in n-heptanol induced corneal epithelial wounds, Epithelial wounds were produced by applying a 5.5mm round filter paper, soaked in n-heptanol, on the central cornea for 60 seconds. 1% Na-HA in phosphate buffered saline(PBS) or PBS saline were instilled 4 times a day for 3 days. Epithelial healing rates determined during the first two days were not altered by Na-HA. However, the number of hemidesmosome in the central cornea, which was counted in the basement membrane, significantly increased by the treatment with 1% Na-HA, being 10.0±1.1 in the 1% Na-HA treated group and 6.5±2.5 in the control group. The results suggest that topically applied 1% Na-HA may enhance the formation of hemidesmosome in n-heptanol wounded cornea.
• Keywords: Na-hyaluronan; Hemidesmosome; N-heptanol; Cornea; Rabbit