A rabbit dry eye model induced by topical medication of a preservative benzalkonium chloride.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To establish a rabbit dry eye model with topical medication of the ocular preparation preservative benzalkonium chloride (BAC).

METHODS:

Sixteen white rabbits were used. One eye of each rabbit was chosen randomly for topical administration of 0.1% BAC twice daily for 14 days. The other untreated eyes served as controls. Schirmer test, fluorescein, and rose bengal staining were performed before and after BAC treatment on days 3, 5, 7, and 14. Conjunctiva impression cytology specimens were collected on days 0, 7, and 14. The rabbits were killed after day 14. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect mucin-5 subtype AC (MUC5AC) on conjunctival cryosections. Cornea and conjunctiva structures were evaluated by light and electron microscopy.

RESULTS:

Compared with untreated controls, BAC-treated eyes showed significant decreases in Schirmer scores (P = 0.01) and increases in fluorescein scores (P < 0.001) on days 5, 7, and 14. A significant increase in rose bengal scores was noticed as early as day 3 (P = 0.001). Decreases in goblet cell density occurred on days 7 and 14 (P = 0.001). Decreased MUC5AC and histopathologic and ultrastructural disorders of the cornea and conjunctiva were also observed in the BAC group.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings demonstrated that an ophthalmic preservative, benzalkonium chloride, induced a dry eye syndrome in rabbits with damage to the cornea and conjunctiva, decreased aqueous tear basal secretion, goblet cell loss, and MUC5AC deficiency. This rabbit model was consistent with human dry eye syndrome in both aqueous tear and mucin deficiency and may be appropriate for studying dry eye syndrome.

• Authors: Cuiju Xiong, Dong Chen, Jingbo Liu, Bingqian Liu, Naiyang Li, Yang Zhou, Xuanwei Liang, Ping Ma, Chengtian Ye, Jian Ge, Zhichong Wang
• Journal: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci) Vol. 49 Issue 5 Pg. 1850-6 (May 2008) ISSN: 0146-0404 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18436819 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Benzalkonium Compounds
• MUC5AC protein, human
• Mucin 5AC
• Mucins
• Preservatives, Pharmaceutical
• Rose Bengal

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Animals
• Benzalkonium Compounds (toxicity)
• Cell Count
• Conjunctiva (drug effects, metabolism, ultrastructure)
• Cornea (drug effects, metabolism, ultrastructure)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dry Eye Syndromes (chemically induced, metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Fluorophotometry
• Goblet Cells (drug effects, pathology)
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
• Mucin 5AC
• Mucins (metabolism)
• Preservatives, Pharmaceutical (toxicity)
• Rabbits
• Rose Bengal
• Tears (metabolism)