Perforating Corneal Injury in Rat and Pentadecapeptide BPC 157

Abstract

Based on its healing effects in various tissues, we hypothesized that the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 heals corneal ulcerations in rats and effects corneal transparency.A penetrant linear 2‐mm incision was made in the paralimbal region of the left cornea at the 5 o'clock position with a 20‐gauge MVR incision knife (Bausch & Lomb) at 45° under an operating microscope. Medication, comprising BPC 157 that was dissolved in distilled water at 2 pg/mL, 2 ng/mL, 2 µg/mL, 2 eye drops in the left eye per rat, was begun immediately after induction of the injury and continued every 8 h up to 120 h; controls received an equal volume of distilled water. In contrast to the poor healing response in controls, BPC 157 significantly accelerated the healing process in 2 µg and 2 ng BPC 157‐treated eyes, starting 24 h after the injury, and the fluorescein and Seidel tests became negative. The epithelial defects were completely healed at 72 h after the injury in the 2 µg BPC 157‐treated group and at 96 h after injury in the 2 ng BPC 157‐treated group. Aqueous cells were absent at 96 h and 120 h after injury in either 2 µg or 2 ng BPC 157‐treated groups, respectively.In conclusion, BPC 157 effects the rapid regaining of corneal transparency. Whereas controls developed new vessels that grew from the limbus to the penetrated area, BPC 157‐treated rats generally had no new vessels, and those that did form in the limbus did not make contact with the penetrated area. Thus, BPC 157 eye drops successfully close perforating corneal incisions in rats. Supported by Grant 108‐1083570‐3635, Croatia