The Effects of Nicergoline on Corneal Nerve Regeneration in Rat Corneas after Photorefractive Keratectomy

Purpose: We wanted to investigate the effect of nicergoline on corneal nerve regeneration in rat corneas after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Methods: Twenty Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into two groups, the control group and the group that had been treated with nicergoline for 4 weeks. Corneal wound healing was evaluated by fluorescein staining after PRK. Immunofluorescent staining was performed in the rat corneas at 1 month after PRK with monoclonal antibodies for class III beta-tubulin, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and substance P (SP). The stained nerve areas were calculated using an image-analysis program. Results: The corneal wound healing rate was not significantly different between the nicergoline-treated rats and the control rats after PRK. At 1 month after PRK, the tubulin-positive, substance P-positive, and CGRP-positive nerve areas were significantly greater in the treatment group than those in the control group. Conclusion: Nicergoline treatment increased the corneal nerve area in the rats after they had undergone PRK. Nicergoline may help patients who have a decreased corneal sense, such as those with neurotrophic keratopathy and those patients after they undergo refractive surgery.