PubMed ID: 29344500
Author(s): Polans AS, McAnulty JF, Phelps PO, Darjatmoko SR, Burris CK, Albert DM. Pilot study of a “large-eye,” surgically induced dry eye rabbit model by selective removal of the harderian, lacrimal, and meibomian glands. Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2017 Dec;4(1):52-56. doi: 10.1159/000475994. Epub 2017 Jul 19. PMID 29344500
Journal: Ocular Oncology And Pathology, Volume 4, Issue 1, Dec 2017
BACKGROUND/AIMS Establish a reliable rabbit dry eye (DE) model.
METHODS An interventional cohort study surgically removing glands contributing to the tear film. Eight rabbits were studied after removal of left lacrimal, Harderian, or both glands. Additional rabbits had Meibomian glands in the left eye thermally obstructed. All were followed for 10 weeks with phenol red thread (PRT) and slit-lamp examination with 2% fluorescein. We assessed corneal sensitivity using a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. Outcome measures were severity/duration of reduced PRT, punctate epithelial erosions (PEE), and histologic evidence of corneal pannus.
RESULTS Fluorescein staining demonstrated signs of dryness including PEE in all of the interventional eyes. The subjective measurement of epithelial erosions correlated with decreased tear production. PRT measurements in the control eyes averaged 31.54 mm (±1.83) and 22.71 mm (±1.60) in the eight left eyes, without loss of corneal sensitivity.
CONCLUSIONS Surgical removal of either the Harderian or lacrimal gland results in statistically significant decreases in tear volume and the development of severe DE. Removal of both glands results in the occurrence of a DE of comparable severity/duration to removal of either the lacrimal or Harderian gland alone. Meibomian gland obstruction contributes less to the DE model.