Lacrimal gland, cornea, and tear film in the NZB/NZW F1 hybrid mouse.
The NZB/NZW F1 hybrid mouse has been reported to contract a disease similar to Sjögren's syndrome in man. We studied lacrimal gland morphology, corneal morphology, and tear osmolarity in this mouse as a function of age. Lacrimal glands of hybrid mice contained abnormal periductal infiltrates of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Maximum infiltration of the lacrimal gland occurred in the 29-week-old female hybrid mouse and was estimated to involve 12% of the gland, but was insufficient to alter tear osmolarity relative to DBA and Balb/c control mice. Nevertheless, both NZB/NZW F1 hybrid mice and DBA and Balb/c control mice had tear osmolarity and corneal surface morphology similar to that reported for keratoconjunctivitis sicca in man. Although the NZB/NZW F1 hybrid mouse may provide a valuable model for the study of lacrimal gland infiltration, since its tear osmolarity and ocular surface remain normal for a mouse, its usefulness as a model for ocular surface disease in human keratoconjunctivitis sicca may be more limited than previously thought.
Gilbard
J P
JP
Eye Research Institute, Boston, MA 02114.
Hanninen
L A
LA
Rothman
R C
RC
Kenyon
K R
KR
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*