Effect of Acetylcysteine on Experimental Corneal Wounds in Dogs

Abstract

The effects of 3, 10 and 20% concentrations of acetylcysteine<br><br>on experimental corneal wound healing in dogs<br><br>were evaluated. Experimental corneal wounds were induced<br><br>surgically, up to the depth of the anterior third of<br><br>the stroma, in both eyes of 18 dogs. One of the eyes was<br><br>treated topically with 0.9% NaCl solution three times a<br><br>day. The contralateral eye was treated topically with acetylcysteine<br><br>(3, 10 and 20% concentrations) in each of 6<br><br>cases separately. Corneal wounds were measured by fluorescein<br><br>staining every day. The mean time of healing in<br><br>the 3% group was significantly different from control<br><br>eyes (6.17 B 1.94 days). It was 7.19 B 0.75 days in the<br><br>20% group and 7 B 2 days in the 10% group. The last<br><br>two groups were not significantly different from the<br><br>controls (9.67 B 3.01 days and 8.17 B 3.60 days, respectively).