Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Following trauma caused by seawater, cells often exhibit special pathological changes because of the special physico-chemical properties of seawater.
OBJECTIVE: To observe corneal histopathological changes and interleukin-6 level in aqueous humor of a rabbit model of penetrating corneal trauma combined with seawater immersion. 
METHODS: The rabbit eye models of penetrating corneal trauma caused by firecrackers were established in 16 adult healthy grey rabbits. A 3-mm whole-layer incision was made in the cornea. The right eyes served as experimental sides and the left eyes served as controls. Seawater was injected into the aqueous humor of the right eyes via the corneal incision. The eye surface was flushed with seawater for 30 minutes. Physiological saline was used for the left eyes.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Optical microscopy results showed that at 1, 2, 3 days after model establishment, corneal cells on the experimental side exhibited severe necrosis and abscission, obvious swelling of substantia propria layer complicated by cellular infiltration. At 1 and 2 days after model establishment, the pathological changes on the control side were the same as the experimental side, but they were mild, but at 3 and 5 days, they were obviously alleviated. At 1, 2, 3 days after model establishment, interleukin-6 level in aqueous humor was significantly higher on the experimental side than on the control side (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the degree of injury on the experimental side was more severe than that on the control side, indicating that seawater may be an important causative factor of corneal injury.