Effects of gentamicin on healing of transdifferentiating conjunctival epithelium in rabbit eyes.

PubMed ID: 3341437

Author(s): Alfonso E, Kenyon KR, D’Amico DJ, Saulenas AM, Albert DM. Effects of gentamicin on healing of transdifferentiating conjunctival epithelium in rabbit eyes. Am J Ophthalmol. 1988 Feb 15;105(2):198-202. PMID 3341437

Journal: American Journal Of Ophthalmology, Volume 105, Issue 2, Feb 1988

We examined the effects of commercially prepared gentamicin, a wide-spectrum topical antibiotic, on the healing of epithelial defects of the rabbit cornea. Abrasions were created by: (1) removing the corneal epithelium and 3 mm of the conjunctival epithelium (Group 1); and (2) producing the same initial trauma and subsequently removing the central 8 mm of epithelium 28 days after initial healing (Group 2). The complete healing of the large corneal and conjunctival epithelial defects was not delayed when gentamicin solution was used four times a day (Group 1). When the healed epithelium was reinjured while transdifferentiating from conjunctival to corneal epithelium (day 28, Group 2), treatment with the gentamicin solution and its vehicle, both containing benzalkonium chloride, delayed epithelial healing significantly compared with treatment with saline (P less than .01).