NGF and TGF-β mRNA expression during pregnancy in a rat corneal wound healing model

Abstract

Background: Growth factors seem to play a major role in corneal wound healing and TGF-β seems to be associated with abnormal healing after corneal surgical procedures. Few studies have analysed the role of NGF and TGF-β on corneal wound healing during pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to create an animal model to evaluate the expression of NGF and TGF-βs during corneal wound healing in two groups: control and pregnant rats. Methods: Corneal mRNA for NGF and the three isoforms of TGF-β were analysed by RT-PCR, in a time-course experiment on different days after epithelial wounding (2, 7, 14 days) in pregnant and control groups Results: The results show high corneal mRNA expression for NGF and TGF-β1 without any variation throughout the healing process or pregnancy evolution. However, we detected a different expression of corneal mRNAs for TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 in the control group. This data was not detected in the pregnant group. Discussion: Our results suggested that pregnancy could have a relevant role on TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 mRNA expression during the corneal wound healing process. Additional research should be performed to corroborate these findings.