Central Corneal Epithelial Wounding Accelerates Aniridia-Associated Keratopathy in PAX6-Deficient Mice.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To investigate corneal healing in a Pax6+/- mouse model of aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK) when challenged with a mild epithelial wound.

Methods

Pax6+/- small-eye (Sey) mice (n = 15) and Pax6+/+ wild-type mice (n = 4) on the 129S1/SvImJ background underwent 1 mm central corneal mechanical epithelial debridement. Corneal status before and four weeks after wounding was evaluated by slit-lamp imaging. Longitudinal corneal thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT), and AAK was graded in Sey mice. Wounded corneas were additionally compared to unwounded contralateral corneas for AAK status. Immunofluorescence staining was used to assess inflammation, wound healing, and the presence of corneal blood and lymphatic vessels.

Results

In wild-t

SUBMITTER: Rautavaara Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12629132 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature