CELL-MIGRATION IN REPAIR OF MOUSE CORNEAL EPITHELIUM

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 18  (8) , 767-784
Abstract
Repair of cornea wounds was studied using scanning electron microscopy in mice by removing the full thickness of epithelium both in vivo and in organ cultures. Repair of wounds 1-1.4 mm diameter was complete in 12-16 h. Elongated epithelial cells were arranged radially about the margins of these small circular wounds. In large, irregularly shaped wounds, the cells frequently lay with their long axes at a tangent to the wound margin. On cells with this arrangement, leading lamellae and numerous short filopodia were present, but not on the radially arranged cells. The tangential orientation of the epithelial cells, usually seen at convex parts of the margins, was believed to be associated with the arrested advance of these areas. Participation of peripheral cornea cells in epithelium movement was evident by the movement of India ink markers placed in them and by the piling up of cells at incisions made across the direction of epithelial movement. The concept of cells rolling over each other at the edge of the wound was not supported. They appeared to move as a mass without significant changes in their relative positions.