| Aim: To investigate the effects of lovastatin of different concentrations on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) in corneal neovascularization of rats.Methods: Corneal neovascularization model was established by a alkaline burning. 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (experimental group A, B, C, D and a control group E). The experimental groups were given lovastatin eye-drops: 10-6 mol/L, 10-5 mol/L, 10-4 mol/L, 10-3 mol/L in group A, B, C, D respectively, and the control group was treated with 0.9% saline. 1) Slit lamp microscopy was used to observe new vessels at 1, 4, 7, 14, 21days dynamically; 2) Imimmunohistochemical staining was used to observe the VEGF level and TGF-β1 level; 3) RT-PCR was used to detect VEGF mRNA level quantitatively.Results: The growth of CNV can be inhibited significantly in group B, C and D, and group D is the most effective one in experimental groups. 1) Compared with the control group and group A, the growth of CNV in group B, C and D at various time points was reduced obviously (P<0.05); 2) Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of VEGF and TGF-β1 in group B, C and D was lower than that in control group and group A; 3) The expression of VEGF mRNA in the experimental rats of group B, C and D was remarkably decreased compared with that of control group and group A. (P<0.05).Conclusion: Lovastatin can effectively inhibit the growth of CNV induced by a alkaline burning through reducing the expression of VEGF and TGF-β1 in cornea.
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