The physiology and pathology changes in eye functions by using dry eye mouse model

Objective To establish a dry eye mouse model to study the physiology and pathology changes in eye functions and evaluate the scientific and practical value by using this model to investigate dry eye disease.Methods Thirty-six 6-week-old female C57 mice were divided randomly into the dry eye time point(1,5,12,20,35 d) groups and the normal control group.Dry eye mouse model was induced by subcutaneous injections of scopolamine hydrobromide and combined with a desiccated environment at different time point.The aqueous tear production was measured by using the phenolred impregnated cotton thread.Corneal fluorescein staining was examined under a slit lamp biomicroscope in cobalt blue light after fluorescein instillation.The eye sections were stained with periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) to evaluate the physiology and pathology changes in conjunctival goblet cells.The expressions of TNF-αand IL-1βin conjunctiva were examined by Real-Time PCR.Results Compared with control group,the induced dry eye mouse model showed that aqueous tear production was significantly decreased(P0.001),the number of goblet cell in conjunctiva was also significantly dropped(P0.01),and corneal fluorescein staining were markedly increased with time.The thickness and cell layers of corneal and conjunctival epithelium were increased with the appearance of cell damage in the surface layer and the disarrangement of cells in the basal layer.The expression of TNF-αmRNA was observably upregulated in the groups of 5,12 and 35 d when compared with control group(P0.05).More interestingly the levels of IL-1βmRNA expression were significantly upregulated in all treated groups(P0.01) comparintg with control group.Conclusion The induced dry eye mouse model represents the similar symptom of dry eye disease in human.It is a simple,quick and feasible way to establish a mouse model to study the mechanism of inflammatoion and neurological function during the development of dry eye disease.