Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate the efficacy and safety of active-type vitamin D treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in mice.
Methods:
Methods: Meibomian gland orifices of the upper eye lid were cauterized and made creating a meibomian gland dysfunction model was created using male C57BL/6JJc1 mice (N=120). MGD mice were randomly divided into three groups: : maxacalcitol (22-oxacalcitriol, an analog of active vitamin D), vaseline (petroleum jelly) control and blank control. Maxacalcitol or vaseline were applied on the upper lid margin a day daily for 2 months. Maxacalcitol or vaseline were also applied on the normal lid margin to evaluate thetheir safety. The cChanges of in the tarsus surface, conjunctiva, cornea and eyelid margin morphology were observed by microscope, and pathological alteration of meibomian gland were investigated on day 2, day 5, day 7, 1 week, 2 weeks , 1 month and 2 months.
Results:
The atrophy of the meibomian glands can be alleviated by maxacalcitol application compared to vaseline and blank control. The cornea is was not affected by maxacalcitol application up to during our 2 month observation.
Conclusions:
Maxacalcitol, active-type vitamin D3 possesses the ability to attenuate MGD and is a potential safe treatment of MGD.
Keywords: 486 cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye •
637 pathology: experimental •
475 conjunctivitis