Acidic fibroblast growth factor overexpression in corneal epithelial wound healing.

aFGF expression was studied in normal and regenerating cornea of adult rats. aFGF mRNA and proteins were expressed mainly in corneal epithelium but not in stroma. After burning of the epithelium by iodine vapours, the intact epithelial cells migrated to cover the wounded area during the first 4 days and then divided to reconstitute a normal multilayered epithelium 6 days after injury. aFGF mRNA localized by in situ hybridization on regenerating epithelium showed a peak between 6 hr and 2 days after denudation, decreasing to basal levels 6 days later. This induction of aFGF mRNA preceded the increased amount of aFGF peptides, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence staining. Thus aFGF overexpression is clearly correlated with active migration in epithelial wound healing.