Effects of Chufeng Yisun Decoction on scar formation and protein expressions of TGF-β1,Smad3,and α-SMA in rabbits after corneal injury
Objective To explore the effects of Chufeng Yisun Decoction(CFYSD)on scar formation and protein expressions of transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1),small mothers against decapentaplegic 3(Smad3),and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)after corneal injury in rabbits.Methods Forty-eight healthy New Zealand rabbits of the same age were divided into four groups using the random number method,namely blank group,model group,CFYSD group,and eye drop group with recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor(hereinafter referred to as the"Beifushu group"),with 12 rabbits in each group.CFYSD group was given adult equivalent dose of CFYSD via gavage once a day,while blank,model,and Befushu groups were given the same volume of normal saline via gavage once a day;additionally,Befushu group was administered with eye drops containing recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor three times a day.At 7,14,and 28 days after modeling,corneal injury and repair were observed under a high-power microscope,corneal cells were examined by confocal laser tomography,pathological changes of corneal tissue were observed by Masson staining,and the protein expressions of TGF-β1,Smad3,and α-SMA in corneal tissue were determined by Western blot.Results Photographs of the anterior segment showed that at 7,14,and 28 days after modeling,the corneal lesion area in CFYSD and Befushu groups was significantly smaller than that in model group.Confocal laser tomography of superficial corneal cells revealed that at 28 days after modeling,model group exhibited a large amount of scar tissue,along with the presence of myofibroblasts.In contrast,CFYSD and Befushu groups showed fibroblasts and corneal stromal cells,with only minimal scar tissue present.Corneal opacity grading showed that compared with blank group,the corneal opacity grade of model group significantly increased at 7,14,and 28 days after modeling(P＜0.01),showing a time-dependent correlation;however,it then fell at 28 days,which may be due to the self-healing ability of rabbit cornea.Compared with model group,the corneal opacity grades of CFYSD and Beifushu groups were significantly reduced at 7,14,and 28 days after modeling(P＜0.01),and the reduction trend increased over time,showing a time-dependent correlation(P＜0.01).Masson staining revealed that at 28 days after modeling,blank group showed neatly and continuously arranged corneal epithelium and orderly aligned stromal fibers,with uniform thickness and dense staining.In model group,the corneal epithelial cells in the lesion were distributed discontinuously;the light blue-stained collagen fibers in the anterior corneal stroma were disordered and discontinuous with uneven thickness,and those in the posterior stroma were also arranged in a chaotic manner,appearing as disordered fiber bundles.Compared with model group,the light blue-stained collagen fibers in the anterior stroma in CFYSD group were more orderly and slightly looser,appearing continuous,and those in the posterior stroma were also arranged orderly.Compared with model group,the light blue-stained collagen fibers in the anterior stroma in Befushu group were more orderly,slightly looser,and continuous,with fiber bundles still present,and those in the posterior stroma were also arranged orderly.Western blot showed that at 7,14,and 28 days after modeling,the protein expression of α-SMA in the corneal tissue was the highest in model group,while it was significantly lower in CFYSD and Befushu groups than that in model group(P＜0.05);similarly,the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and Smad3 were also the highest in model group at these time points,while they were significantly lower in CFYSD and Befushu groups than those in model group(P＜0.05).Conclusion CFYSD can promote the repair of corneal injury,inhibit corneal scarring,and exert effects on TGF-β1,Smad3,and α-SMA protein expressions.
万方数据
维普
