The expression and correlation of cyclooxygenase-2 and VEGF in rabbit corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in rabbit corneal neovascularization(CNV) induced by alkali burn and analyze the correlation between COX-2 and VEGF.MethodsThe models of CNV were induced by alkali burn.The development of CNV was monitored daily under slit-lamp microscope,and the areas of CNV were calculated.Immunohistochemistry S-P method was used to measure the expression of COX-2 and VEGF at different time points and analyze the correlation between COX-2 and VEGF.ResultsThe CNV areas enlarged gradually and the expression of COX-2 and VEGF protein were increasing 3,7,10,14 days after the burn,mainly localized in inflammatory cells and endothelial cells of neovascularization.The expression of COX-2 was correlative with VEGF positively(r=0.995,P0.05).ConclusionCOX-2 may up-regulate the level of VEGF and contribute to the inflammation-associated corneal angiogenesis.