Abstract
Abstract This study investigated the influence of murine corneal sympathetic nerves on epithelial wound healing. The wound model involved mechanical removal of a 2mm diameter area of the central corneal epithelial layer. We evaluated re-epithelialization, leukocyte extravasation, and platelet accumulation in the limbus and cornea at different time intervals after injury. The potential influence of sympathetic nerves in healing and inflammation was assessed by chemical sympathectomy, as well as topically applied adrenergic agonists and antagonists. Sympathectomy and the β2 receptor antagonist, timolol, each significantly accelerated the corneal epithelial healing process, including re-epithelialization and epithelial cell division. The agonist isoproterenol significantly inhibited re-epithelialization and epithelial cell division. Neutrophil migration into the wounded cornea was significantly inhibited by either sympathectomy or topical timolol, while isoproterenol restored neutrophil migration in the sympathectomized corneas. Platelet accumulation was inconsistently influenced by sympathectomy and timolol, but markedly inhibited by isoproterenol. These results are consistent with the interpretation that corneal sympathetic nerves can modulate corneal epithelial wound closure and platelet accumulation, and augment neutrophil influx.
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