Expression Of CD44 And Hyaluronan In The Coneal Alkaline-burned Rat

Object To investigate the expression of CD44 and hyaluronanin the corneal alkaline-burned-rat(ABR) model and to reveal the function of them in the case of corneal rehabilitation. Methods Develop the ABR model, monitor the expression of CD44 and hyaluronan in the point 12h,24h ,3d,7d,14d after the injury by the means of immunohistochemical analysis. Results In normal corneas CD44 was little expressed only in the basal column cells and the stromalkerotocytes. At the time 12h after injury, increasing expression could be seen in the basal cells, and expression occurs in the flat cells and wing cells. The predominant expression can be seen in the 3-7d after the injury, in the 14d when the epithelium rehabilitate, expression decreased in the basal column cells and stromal kerotocytes and disappeared in the flat cells and the wing cells. The expression of HA is the same to CD44. Conclusion CD44 and it's receptor HA play important rolls in the course of corneal alkaline burn. They perform the adhesion of the cell-cell and cell-matrix, the epithelial migration and rehabilitation, and can help the corneal reepithelization.