Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the efficacy of placental extracts (PE) eyedrops compared with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and peripheral blood serum (PBS) eyedrops in a mouse model of experimental dry eye (EDE).
Methods :
EDE was induced in C57BL/6 mice by desiccating stress and injection of scopolamine. Mice were divided into five groups: untreated, EDE, CMC-treated, PBS-treated, and PE-treated groups. Tear volume, tear-film break-up time, and corneal staining scores (CSS) were measured at 5 and 10 days. Ten days after treatment, 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate for reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and TUNEL assays for corneal apoptosis, and histological assessment for conjunctival goblet cell density were performed.
Results :
All treatment groups (CMC, PBS, and PE) showed an improvement in tear volume, CSS, and conjunctival goblet cell density. ROS production and corneal apoptosis were decreased in the PBS and PE-treated groups. Compared with CMC group, PBS and PE groups showed decreased ROS production and corneal apoptosis, and increased conjunctival goblet cell density. There was no difference in clinical parameters, ROS production, corneal apoptosis, and conjunctival goblet cell density between PBS and PE-treated groups.
Conclusions :
Topical PE eyedrops could effectively improve clinical signs and oxidative damage of ocular surface in the EDE, and its efficacy and potency were similar to those of PBS eyedrops.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.