LOCALIZATION OF COLLAGEN (I) AND COLLAGENASE MESSENGER-RNA BY INSITU HYBRIDIZATION DURING CORNEAL WOUND-HEALING AFTER EPIKERATOPHAKIA OR ALKALI-BURN

The expression and localization of type I collagen and collagenase gene were studied by in situ hybridization using rabbit cornea during wound healing following epikeratophakia or alkali-burn. In corneas 24 days after epikeratophakia, alpha-1-(I) collagen mRNA was detected in keratocytes which had migrated from the host cornea into the keratolens. In contrast, collagenase mRNA was detected in cells which seemed to be inflammatory cells around the suture between the host stroma and the keratolens. The increase of alpha-1-(I) collagen mRNA in keratocytes was observed in corneas 94 days after epikeratophakia and in alkali-burned corneas 1-2 months after the burn. These results provide evidence that keratocytes synthesize collagen and that this synthesizing activity lasts for a long period during corneal wound healing.