Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate the treatment effect of quercetin on dry eye in a mouse model.
Methods:
0.5% quercetin eye drops were prepared by diluting 10% quercetin with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Experimental dry eye model was induced in NOD.B10.H2b mice by dessicating stress. The mice were divided into three groups according to the treatment regimen : DS 10D (only desiccation stress for 10 days) ; PBS group; and Quercetin group. Tear volume and corneal irregularity scores were measured at 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after treatment. Haematoxylin and eosin staining(H&E), periodic acid-Schiff staining(PAS) and immunohistochemistry(IHC) were performed at the end of the experiment.
Results:
Quercetin group showed significantly increased tear volume and decreased corneal irregularity score compared with PBS group (p<0.05). Quercetin group kept smoothe corneal surface without corneal epithelial detachment in H&E and indicated increased goblet cell density in PAS. Quercetin group also showed significant declines of TNF-α, MMP-2, MMP-9, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels in IHC of the lacrimal gland compared with PBS group.
Conclusions:
Quercetin is thought to be helpful in improving the ocular surface disorders of dry eye not only by restoring the corneal epithelial detachment but also by increasing tear volume and goblet cell density. Furthermore, quercetin is effective in the treatment of dry eye related to inflammation.