Effect of vitamin E on the production of collagen, DNA and fibronectin in keratocytes in vitro.

Vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate) can inhibit collagen production in rabbit corneal keratocytes in vitro when incubated in the absence of serum. Cell growth is not appreciably affected but fibronectin synthesis is increased after exposure to vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopherol and DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate) in the absence of serum. These findings may be important in understanding how vitamin E is advocated as both an inhibitor of scar formation and as an aid to healing.