Corneal sensory nerve fibers exert important trophic effects on the corneal epithelium, stimulate epithelial mitogenesis, and accelerate wound healing after corneal injuries. The mechanisms by which the nerves exert these effects are unknown; however, the release of axonally transported neuropeptides has been hypothesized. In the current application, we propose: 1) to study the ability of six different neuropeptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), galanin (GAL), neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and met-enkephalin (met-ENK) to stimulate epithelial mitogenesis in normal rat corneas, 2) to study the ability of the aforementioned neuropeptides to stimulate epithelial mitogenesis in wounded rat corneas, 3) to determine the effects of unilateral corneal injury on neuropeptide expression (up-regulation, down-regulation, or alteration) in ipsilateral corneal nerve fibers, and 4) to determine the effects of unilateral corneal injury on neuropeptide expression in contralateral corneal nerve fibers. The long term objectives of this continuing research program are to increase our understanding of the neurochemistry, plasticity, an trophic functions of corneal nerves and to test the hypothesis that certain neuropeptides synthesized and transported within corneal nerves may be used therapeutically to stimulate wound healing following corneal injuries.
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