Objectives There are few reports that describe the physiological changes in a vein graft used to reconstruct lacrimal canaliculus. This paper aims to observe the phasic changes in cell proliferation in an autogenous vein graft used to repair the lacrimal canaliculus.

Methods Lacrimal canaliculus disjunction was made in a rabbit model by transecting one side of the lacrimal canaliculus. The injury was repaired using an autogenous ear vein graft. Phasic changes in cell proliferation were observed using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry for the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the grafted vein segment.

Results At 3 days postoperative, cell proliferation in the grafted vein segment became active, peaking at 7 days postoperative. Cell proliferation became stable in the epithelial connective tissue, but remained active in the subepithelium at 28 days postoperative.

Conclusion The phasic changes in cell proliferation in the autogenous vein graft were consistent with a normal wound healing response.