The effect of amniotic membrane extract on epithelialization and neovascularization in models of corneal damage

Abstract

Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the human amniotic membrane extract (AME) on wound healing of the corneal epithelium of the corneal epithelium, as well as on epithelialization and vascularization of the cornea in the model of severe alkaline burn. Methods. The toxicity of AME (at a concentration of 6.3%) and its effect on the migration activity of corneal epithelial cells (at concentrations of 6.3, 0.63 and 0.063%) were examined on a cell culture obtained from a donor material in a standard MTT-test and a wound test culture monolayer, respectively. The effect of AME (6.3%) on epithelialization and neovascularization of the cornea was studied in the experimental model of a corneal burn and a limb 50% in rabbits for 30 days. Results. There were no statistically significant changes in the viability of the cell culture under the action of AME at a concentration of 6.3%. After 48 hours in culture samples with the content of AME at concentrations of 6.3, 0.63 and 0.063% and the control, the width of the monolayer wound was 433.0±130.3, 235.5±56.4, 159.5±100.0 and 132.5±53.2 |jm. By the 30^th day, the epithelialization area in control and treated with the use of AME animals was 21.2±10.2 and 99.5±0.4%, respectively. A statistically significant increase in the area of corneal neovascularization with the use of AME as compared with the control was observed at the 7^th (28.5±12.7 and 12.1±3.2%) and 30^th (81.9±18.1 and 43.3±4.7%, respectively) day. Conclusions. The results of the study demonstrate the dose-dependent inhibition of the migration of corneal epithelium cells under the influence of AME in vitro, without the cytotoxic effects of high extract concentrations on the cell culture, and the stimulation of the neovascularization of the cornea in a severe chemical burn model in vivo.