Objective: To investigate the effect of amniotic membrane on TGF-beta 1 expression after photorefractive keratectomy(PRK).
Methods: PRK was performed bilaterally on 6 New Zealand white rabbits. One eye was randomly tranplanted with preserved human amniotic membrane, and the other eye served as the control. The expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA was detected with in situ hybridization at the 4th weeks after PRK.
Results: TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression was present in the corneal epithelium and stroma at the 4th weeks after PRK. The cornea in amniotic membrane transplanted group had also TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression, and the expression extent was less than that in control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Amniotic membrane can reduce the expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA in cornea after PRK.