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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Isolation of Myoepithelial Cells from Adult Murine Lacrimal and Submandibular Glands
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Adding myofibroblasts to the lacrimal pump.

Raluca Iustina Bâră1, Liliana Mary Voinea2, Alexandra Diana Vrapciu3

  • 1Department of Ophtalmology, Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; Department of Ophtalmology, Bucharest University Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.

Acta Histochemica
|March 12, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study investigated the lacrimal sac (LS) for intrinsic contractile potential. Researchers found a myofibroblast network, suggesting a structural basis for the lacrimal pump mechanism.

Keywords:
Alpha-smooth muscle actinCaldesmonImmunohistochemistryLacrimal drainage systemLacrimal pumpMALTMyofibroblasts

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Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Anatomy
  • Histology

Background:

  • The lacrimal sac (LS) drains tears via the nasolacrimal duct.
  • The lacrimal pump mechanism, crucial for tear drainage, is debated regarding its extrinsic (active/passive) nature.
  • Intrinsic contractile properties of the LS have not been previously documented.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential intrinsic contractile capacity of the lacrimal sac.
  • To examine the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and h-caldesmon in the LS wall.
  • To determine if the LS possesses an intrinsic scaffold supporting the lacrimal pump.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective immunohistochemical analysis of archived paraffin-embedded LS samples from ten adult patients.
  • Detection of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and h-caldesmon expression.
  • Microscopic examination of cellular and stromal components within the LS wall.

Main Results:

  • Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was detected in basal epithelial cells, subepithelial stromal cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and pericytes.
  • H-caldesmon expression was exclusively observed in pericytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, and myoepithelial cells of subepithelial glands.
  • A consistent stromal network of α-SMA+/h-caldesmon- myofibroblasts was identified in all samples.

Conclusions:

  • The lacrimal sac exhibits an intrinsic cellular network, particularly myofibroblasts.
  • The presence of α-SMA and h-caldesmon supports the existence of contractile elements within the LS wall.
  • These findings suggest an intrinsic structural scaffold contributing to the lacrimal pump mechanism.