Abstract
Purpose: :
The aim of this study was to evaluate the lacrimal gland (LG) and ocular surface (OS) response to LG partial ablation (G1), allogenic transplantation (G2) and denervation (G3).
Methods: :
Eight-week-old male Wistar rats were submitted to the following procedure in the right LG: G1) partial ablation, G2) partial ablation and transplantation of an allogenic LG, G3) denervation. In all groups the left eye was the control (n=5-10/group). After 1 and 2 months, the animals were anesthetized and evaluated by slit-lamp and phenol red thread test. Tissues were removed and processed for histology and western blot. PCNA and Caspase-3 expression were evaluated for proliferative and apoptotic activity.
Results: :
Slit-lamp observation revealed inflammation and corneal vascularization in G2 and mild to moderate OS damage in G1 and G3. The levels of phenol red thread test did not differ among groups after 1 and 2 months (p<0.05). The LG weight was significantly lower in G1 and G2 after 1 and 2 months (p=0,0386 for 1 month and P<0.0001 for 2 month). The expression for Caspase-3 was similar among the groups after 1 month (p=0.346) and PCNA was significantly higher in G1 (p=0,0286).
Conclusions: :
The present findings indicate that LG removal and transplantation induce OS inflammation in rats. The higher expression of PCNA in G1 suggests higher proliferative activity in this model. Overall, our work offer substrate for further studies of LG injury and repair related to dry eye syndrome and OS injury.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • lacrimal gland • inflammation