Using standardized freeze wounds in cat corneas, we tested the efficacy of basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) solubilized in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to promote endothelial healing when injected intraocularly at doses ranging from 0.01 microgram to 10 micrograms. After 6 days, animals were humanely sacrificed and corneal tissues were fixed and stained for light microscopy and computation of remaining wound areas. A significant dose-response relationship was found between the dosages of 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 microgram of bFGF/eye and the stimulation of more completely healed endothelium six days after transcorneal freeze wounding. Significantly larger endothelial wounds were present six days after wounding when the eyes were treated with 10 micrograms of bFGF/eye compared with controls treated with PBS only.

Using standardized freeze wounds in cat corneas, we tested the efficacy of human recombinant Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) to promote endothelial healing when solubilized in either phosphate buffered saline (PBS), 1% methylcellulose (MC), or sodium hyaluronate (NaHA), in final intraocular doses ranging from 2 micrograms to 100 micrograms of EGF. After 6 or 7 days' healing, animals were humanely sacrificed and corneal tissues were fixed and stained for light microscopy and computation of remaining wound areas. EGF in NaHA in final intraocular doses of 2 and 10 micrograms prompted significantly more complete healing of transcorneal freeze wounds to endothelium compared with endothelium of eyes treated with NaHA control solution alone. EGF in PBS or in MC in doses ranging from 2-100 micrograms/eye did not promote more complete wound healing than that seen in eyes treated with their respective vehicle solutions alone. All vehicle solutions were associated with similar degrees of wound healing, implying that they have no intrinsic healing properties.

Several growth factors have been evaluated for their effects on corneal wound healing but few studies have yet demonstrated an acceleration of endothelial repair in vivo. Mesodermal Growth Factor (MGF) was tested in vivo by making standardized freeze wounds in cat corneas and immediately injecting one of four concentrations of MGF in sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS), or PBS alone, into the anterior chamber. Seven days later, the animals were sacrificed and the corneas excised and stained. Descemet's membrane and endothelium were dissected and mounted onto glass slides. The wound areas were photographed, measured and compared statistically. Those cats receiving the three lowest doses of MGF had significantly smaller wounds than controls (p less than 0.05).

Rabbit corneal stromal lenticules were prepared on a Barraquer cryolathe and soaked overnight in McCarey-Kaufman solution containing one of three concentrations of Mesodermal Growth Factor (MGF) or in sterile storage medium alone. The lenticules were implanted in rabbit corneas and allowed to heal for either 1 or 2 weeks; the animals were then sacrificed, and the operated corneas excised and processed for light microscopy. Counts of stromal fibroblasts in the formerly acellular implants were compared statistically; 250 µm/ml of MGF prompted more thorough repopulation (p<.05) by host keratocytes compared with controls.