title: Development of a simple dry eye model in the albino rabbit and evaluation of some tear substitutes.
abstract: The present paper is concerned with the development of a simple dry eye model in the rabbit, induced by daily repeated instillations of 1.0% atropine sulphate. The evolution of the dry eye syndrome in the animals was assessed by the Schirmer I test and by examination of the cornea after fluorescein staining. The model produced rapidly some typical dry eye symptoms and could be satisfactorily used for a preliminary assessment of the protective activity of some polymeric tear substitutes. These were based on hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, sodium hyaluronate, sodium polyacrylate or tamarind gum. The latter polymer showed the best overall results. Ferning tests on the formulations were also performed: their validity as predictors of the efficacy of tear substitutes is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. burgal@farm.unipi.it
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burgalassi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Panichi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chetoni
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Saettone
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boldrini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011108:Polymers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011108:Polymers