Basic fibroblast growth factor stimulates epithelial cell growth and epithelial wound healing in canine corneas

Objective  To evaluate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the proliferation of canine corneal epithelial cells and epithelial wound healing. Animal studied  Canine corneal epithelial cells from the corneas of euthanized dogs and corneal epithelial wounds on one eye from each of 24 dogs. Procedures  The proliferation of corneal epithelial cells in vitro was measured using the methylthiazolyl‐tetrazolium (MTT) assay. A corneal wound on one eye of each dog was made with a corneal trephine (6 mm diameter). Four concentrations of bFGF, 0, 100, 500, and 1000 ng/mL, were applied to the affected eyes of dogs, t.i.d. Fluorescein staining was used to assess closure of the corneal epithelial wound. Results  The addition of bFGF resulted in a significant increase in epithelial proliferation at 24 h after culture, except 1 ng/mL bFGF. Cells with all bFGF treatments proliferated significantly at 48 and 96 h compared to those in the non‐bFGF group. bFGF at a concentration of 10 ng/mL promoted cell proliferation maximally. The wound healing rate in the bFGF‐treated groups was greater than that in the control. All corneal wounds in bFGF‐treated corneas closed by day 7, whereas two of six corneal wounds in the control showed poor healing. None of the eyes developed corneal clouding or neovascularization during the experiment. Conclusions  Basic fibroblast growth factor accelerated the proliferation of canine epithelial cells and effectively promoted corneal epithelial wound healing.