Sources of reparative histogenesis of the anterior corneal epithelium
The article based on the analysis of experimental material (90 rabbits) presents the results of the study of the reparative capabilities of the epithelium of the rabbit cornea after the burn injury of the cornea limbus. It is found that the mitotic activity of the epithelium is detected in the area of the corneal limbus. In the rest of the cornea, both in the center and on the periphery, mitosis is rare. The expression of the proliferation marker ki 67 protein is found predominantly in the limbus region. Proliferative activity of the epithelium provides histotypic restoration of the anterior corneal epithelium in cases of damage to a quarter and a half of the limbus area. When more than half of the limb area is damaged, the damaged surface of the cornea is only partially epithelized by the proliferation of corneal cells, the remaining surface of the cornea is covered either by the conjunctiva epithelium, or a connective tissue scar is formed at the injury site. With total burn damage to the limbs, the healing of the wound surface of the cornea occurs both due to the growth of the epithelium of the conjunctiva, and due to the formation of a scar. The expression of the proapoptotic protein P 53 in the corneal epithelium of intact rabbits is low, it increases with corneal burn injury.