Expression And Significance Of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor ⅠA In Rat Cornea After Cautery With Alkali

Objective To ascertain the role of bone morphogenetic protein receptors IA (BMPR-ⅠA) in corneal neovascularization (CNV) occurrence and development by investigate into the expression of BMPR-IA in the rat cornea after cautery with alkali.Methods Corneal neovascularization was induced by cauterizing with 1mol/L sodium hydroxide. In Wistar rats, 36 healthy Wistar rats were selected randomly. They were divided into six groups according to the time after alkali burn (0,1,3,5,7,14d). Animals were sacrificed at 1d,3d,5d,7d,14d after cautery with alkali, and their corneas were enucleated for histopathological examination. The expression of BMPR-IA was studied by immunohistochemistry at different time points, and the results was analyzed by picture quantitative analysis technique.Results BMPR-IA expressed in the normal rat corneal epithelium , but the expression of it increased significant after cautery. Both infiltrating cells and endothelium of capillaries expressed BMPR-IA. After alkali burn, the expression of BMPR- IA in the cornea reached the maximum on the 1st (p<0.05).Then it decreased gradually on the 3rd～5th day and reached the normal level on the 14th day. Conclusions The fact that BMPR- IA appear In all the regular corneas proves it maintain the rat's physiological functions. Expression of BMPR- IA in the corneal epithelium were significantly increased in the early stage after alkali burn of rat cornea, which indicated that BMPR- IA may play a role in the early development of the corneal neovascularization after corneal cauterization with alkali.