J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.
1998 Apr;39(4):643-648.
Expression of Superoxide Dismutase in Alkali-burned Rat Corneal Epithelium
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Ophthalmology, National Police Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
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During the acute stage of inflammation such as alkali burn, an intense local oxidation process takes place at the inflammatory foci through production of oxygen-derived free radicals. The extent of tissue damage would be the result of the balance between free radical generated and the local antioxidation defense system. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a major oxygen radical scavenging enzyme. Major active molecule in rat, rabbit and human is known as Cu-Zn SOD. We have been studied the difference of the distribution of SOD between normal and alkali burned rat cornea by immunohistochemical staining method. In normal rat corneal epithelium, the basal and intermediate layer cells exhibited intense intacellular staining, average 4.13 cell layers. In alkali burned rat corneal epithelium, average cell layers of intracelluar staining were 0.73, 2.2, 2.93 at postburn 1 day, 3 dyas, 7 days, respectively. We think these results are mainly due to the increase of oxygen free radical and decreased production of SOD at early postburn period. Therefore, free radical scavenging agent such as SOD may be helpful in would healing of corneal alkali burn.