@article{c1ceb0b6380743ff86e0e3255e07e31a,
title = "Repetitive magnetic stimulation protects corneal epithelium in a rabbit model of short-term exposure keratopathy",
abstract = "Purpose: To investigate the effect of repetitive magnetic stimulation (RMS) on corneal epithelial permeability in a rabbit model of exposure keratopathy. Methods: 61 female New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were treated on one eye with repetitive magnetic stimulation (RMS) at a frequency of 20 Hz for 15 min. The other eye was untreated. Rabbit eyes were kept open for 2 h to induce acute corneal desiccation. The extent of fluorescein corneal staining was evaluated using EpiView software and the concentration of fluorescein in the anterior chamber was determined by a fluorometer. Safety was evaluated by electroretinogram, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and histopathology. Expression pattern of corneal cell markers was determined by immunofluorescence. Results: A significant decrease in fluorescein concentration in the anterior chamber (54 ± 8.4 ng/ml vs. 146.5 ± 18.6 ng/ml, p = 0.000001) and in corneal surface fluorescein staining score (1.7 ± 0.2 vs. 4.6 ± 0.6, p = 0.00001) was obtained in RMS-treated eyes compared with control eyes, respectively. RMS treatment reduced by nearly 4 fold the percentage of corneal area with epithelial erosions by anterior segment SD-OCT. The therapeutic effect was maintained for at least 3 months. Increased expression of epithelial tight junction protein Zo-1 was observed in treated eyes. SD-OCT and histopathology analysis revealed no pathological changes in the treated or non-treated eyes. Conclusions: RMS treatment decreases epithelial corneal erosions in a rabbit model of exposure keratopathy, with no indication of pathological changes. RMS may present a novel treatment for protection of corneal epithelium from desiccation.",
keywords = "Corneal defects, Epithelial erosions, Exposure keratopathy, Fluorescein, Magnetic stimulation, RMS, SD-OCT, TMS",
author = "Ifat Sher and Adi Tzameret and Zehavit Goldberg and Ettel Bubis and Noa Avni-Zauberman and Ofra Kalter-Leibovici and Marcovich, {Arie L.} and {Ben Simon}, Guy and Ygal Rotenstreich",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Elsevier Inc.",
year = "2020",
month = jan,
doi = "10.1016/j.jtos.2019.09.009",
language = "אנגלית",
volume = "18",
pages = "64--73",
journal = "Ocular Surface",
issn = "1542-0124",
publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",
number = "1",
}