Can zinc prevent apoptosis of anterior keratocytes after superficial keratectomy?
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether zinc, which blocks apoptosis in many systems, including in leukemic cells and possibly in retinal dystrophies, can prevent the unwanted loss of anterior stromal keratocytes after superficial keratectomy. METHODS: After mechanical central corneal epithelial debridement, the left eyes of nine New Zealand white rabbits were treated with 25 mM zinc chloride (ZnCl2) in Earle’s salts minimal essential medium (MEM) either every 30 min (n = 3), every 2 h (n = 3), or every 4 h (n = 3). The left eyes of nine additional animals, divided into three equal groups, were deepithelialized, and each received pure culture medium at one of the same three frequencies. One eye of each of another six rabbits was deepithelialized but received no drops. After 24 h, all 24 animals were sacrificed and the globes were enucleated. The corneas were processed and sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. RESULTS: The cell count of MEM-treated corneas exceeded that of untreated
