A Novel Rabbit Dry Eye Model Induced by a Controlled Drying System.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Animal Models
• Dry Eye Disease

Background:

• Dry eye disease is a prevalent condition with various contributing factors.
• Environmental conditions can significantly exacerbate dry eye symptoms.
• Developing reliable animal models is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms and testing treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and validate an environment-induced dry eye model in rabbits.
• To utilize a controlled drying system (CDS) for inducing dry eye conditions.
• To assess the pathological changes associated with environmentally induced dry eye.

Main Methods:

• Rabbits were exposed to a controlled dry environment (22% ± 4% humidity, 3-4 m/s airflow) for 14 days.
• Ocular surface assessments included Schirmer test, fluorescein, and lissamine green staining.
• Histopathological and molecular analyses evaluated corneal thickness, inflammation, goblet cell density, and protein/gene expression (MUC5AC, caspase-3).

Main Results:

• The CDS effectively created a dry environment, reducing tear production and increasing ocular surface staining.
• Rabbits in the dry group showed thinner corneal epithelium, inflammatory cell infiltration, and decreased goblet cells and MUC5AC protein.
• Elevated caspase-3 protein and inflammatory cytokine levels were observed in ocular tissues and lacrimal glands.

Conclusions:

• The controlled drying system successfully induced a dry eye phenotype in rabbits.
• The induced pathological changes closely resemble human dry eye disease.
• This model serves as a valuable platform for investigating dry eye pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions.