Corneal Wound Healing: Partial Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency

Limbal stem cells are responsible for the continuous renewal of the corneal epithelium. The destruction or dysfunction of these stem cells or their niche induces limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) leading to visual loss, chronic pain, and inflammation of the ocular surface.

A partial LSCD model is created in rabbits by denudation of corneal surface with n-hepanol soaked cotton swabs and surgical 180º limbal peritomy (temporal limbus, from 7 to 1 o’clock) using a crescent knife.

Corneal neovascularization, corneal opacity and epithelial defects are clinically scored weekly by two different researchers. At the end of follow- up (11 weeks), histopathology and immunofluorescence analyses evaluate the degree of damage created in the limbal niche and the presence of inflammation and goblet cells (as a sign of conjunctival in-growth) in the central cornea and limbus.

Rabbit corneas develop neovascularization, opacification, and epithelial defects after 3 weeks, resembling mild human LSCD. Histopathology and immunofluorescence analyses show complete destruction of the injured area (180º) and mild inflammation of the non-injured area.

New ocular treatments could be applied in this model in order to evaluate their effect in a mild LSCD in a moderate model of corneal epithelial wound healing