[Correlation between secretion rate and electrolyte concentration of human tears, and classification of patients with decrease in basal tear secretion].
We have reported that [K+] of human reflex tears is significantly higher than that of the basal tears, as reported in the rabbit. We investigated further the relation between secretion rate and parameters of pH, time-dependent change (delta pH1), [Na+], and [K+], to analyse the functional details of tear secretion. We reconfirmed elevation of [K+] of the tears at a high secretion rate, and noted a similar increase in delta pH1. In addition, we found a positive correlation between the tear secretion rate and delta pH1 and [K+]. In accordance with these results, we speculated that there were K(+)- and HCO3(-)-dependent secretory mechanisms in the lacrimal acinal cells and that the lacrimal secretion was maintained with these parallel mechanisms. Based on these results, we tried further to classify patients with decrease in basal tear secretion using the parameters of delta pH1 and [K+]. As a result we could classify patients on the basis of decrease in basal tear secretion.
Sasaki
Y
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Japan.
Sato
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000145:classification*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012636:Secretory Rate; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
D004573:Electrolytes; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium