Topical Steroids and Tritiated Thymidine Uptake

Abstract

The effect of topically applied 1% medrysone and 0.05% dexamethasone ointment (Decadron) three times a day was studied in rabbit corneas with circular stromal injuries caused by a cryocautery. There was a marked decrease in the uptake of the tritiated thymidine in steroid-treated corneas 24 hours after the injury. This decrease in the number of labeled cells paralleled a twofold decrease in wound healing measurements at the end of five days. It is suggested that cortisone decreases the healing of corneal stromal wounds by inhibiting deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis of regenerating connective tissue cells.