Pseudomonas aeruginosa Keratitis in Rats: Study of the Effect of Topical 5% Hesperidin Practice on Healing

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of topical 5% hesperidin application on healing. Materials and Methods: After 48 rats were randomized and divided into 7 groups, on the first day, an epithelial defect was created in the center of the cornea with the help of microkeratome under intraperitoneal ket-amine + xylazine and topical 5% proparacaine anesthesia for the groups to be infected with keratitis according to the groups mentioned below. An amount of 0.05 mL of the solution containing 108 colony-forming units/ mL Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA-ATC27853) will be taken and inoculated per rat. At the end of the 3 days incubation period, rats with keratitis will be added to the groups, and active substances and antibiotics will be given topically together with other groups for 10 days. At the end of the study, the ocular tissues of the rats will be removed and examined histopathologically. Results: A clinically significant reduction in inflammation was detected in the groups using hesperidin. No transforming growth factor-β1 staining was detected in the group in which keratitis + hesperidin was treated topically. In the group in which hesperidin toxicity was examined, mild inflammation and thickening of the corneal stroma layer were observed, and it was evaluated as a negative transforming growth factor-β1 expres-sion in the lacrimal gland tissue. Corneal epithelial damage was minimal in the keratitis group, and the toxicity group was treated with only hesperidin when compared to the other groups. Conclusion: Topical hesperidin drops may be an important therapeutic factor in tissue healing and in the fight against inflammation in the treatment of keratitis. © 2023, AVES. All rights reserved.