Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate changes of tear production and ocular surface in experimental dry eye after elimination of desiccating stress (DS) in C57BL/6 and NOD.B10.H2b mice.
Methods: :
Experimental dry eye was induced in 12- to 18-week-old C57BL/6 and NOD.B10.H2b mice, by subcutaneous injection of scopolamine with exposure to an air draft for 10 days. Tear volume and corneal smoothness were measured at baseline, 5 and 10 days after DS, and 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after removal of DS. PAS staining and immunohistochemisty were performed to evaluate the density of conjunctival goblet cells and CD4+ T cells in each group.
Results: :
In C57BL/6 mice, tear volume decreased from 5 days after DS and improved to baseline level at 3 days after deprivation of DS. Corneal smoothness score was deteriorated from 5 days after DS and improved to baseline level at 7 days after deprivation of DS. Density of conjunctival goblet cells and CD4+ T cells which decreased at 5 days after DS was returned to to baseline level at 14 days after deprivation of DS. In NOD mice, tear volume, corneal smoothness, and density of conjunctival goblet cells and CD4+ T cells were changed from 5 days after DS. Despite stress removal, all parameters were not recovered to baseline level during the observation period.
Conclusions: :
After deprivation of desiccating stress in experimental dry eye, tear production and ocular surface were recovered within 2 weeks in C57BL/6 mice and were remained unchanged in NOD mice. Experimental dry eye can be reversed after desiccating environment is eliminated in unsusceptible mice, in contrast to autoimmune mice.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye