Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate the efficacy and safety of active-type vitamin D treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in mice
Methods:
Meibomian gland orifices of the upper eyelid were fulgurated slightly to create a meibomian gland dysfunction model using male C57BL/6JJcl mice (N=40). Fulguration-induced MGD mice were randomly divided into two groups: maxacalcitol (22-oxacalcitriol, an analog of active vitamin D) group and Vaseline group. Non-fulgurated left eyelids were used as normal control. Maxacalcitol or Vaseline ointment were applied on the upper lid margin 5 days a week for 2 months. Maxacalcitol or Vaseline ointment were also applied on the normal lid margin to evaluate their safety. Changes in the tarsus surface, conjunctiva, cornea and eyelid margin were observed by microscopy. Morphological changes of meibomian gland were examined by meibography of transparentized eyelids. Pathological alteration of meibomian gland were investigated by haemotoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and oil-red o staining.
Results:
The atrophy of the meibomian glands can be alleviated by maxacalcitol application compared to Vaseline or normal control, especially during the first 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, statistically significant alleviation were shown by meibography of those eyelids (p<0.05). The cornea was not affected by maxacalcitol application during our 2-month observation.
Conclusions:
Maxacalcitol, active-type vitamin D3 possesses the ability to attenuate fulguration-induced MGD and is a potential safe adjuvant of MGD treatment.