Androgen influence on the meibomian gland.
OBJECTIVE
The hypothesis in the study was that androgens control meibomian gland function, regulate the quality and/or quantity of lipids produced by this tissue, and promote the formation of the tear film's lipid layer. To test this hypothesis, a study was conducted to determine whether androgen receptor protein exists in the epithelial cell nuclei of rat meibomian glands and, in addition, whether androgen deficiency and/or treatment influences the gross morphology, neutral lipid content, and fatty acid profile of the rabbit meibomian gland, as well as the appearance of the tear film lipid layer.


METHODS
Rat lids were obtained and processed for immunohistochemistry. Meibomian glands from intact, androgen- and/or placebo-treated rabbits were analyzed by histology, and glandular lipids were evaluated by gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and mass spectrometry. The rabbit tear film lipid layer was assessed by interferometry.


RESULTS
In the current study androgen receptor protein existed within acinar epithelial cell nuclei of rat meibomian glands; androgen deficiency was associated with alterations in the lipid content of the rabbit meibomian gland; 19-nortestosterone treatment modulated the fatty acid profile in the total and neutral lipid fractions of the rabbit meibomian gland; and androgens did not appear to influence the gross morphology of meibomian tissue or to exert a demonstrable effect on the rabbit tear film lipid layer.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings show that the meibomian gland is an androgen target organ and that androgens influence the lipid profile within this tissue. However, the extent to which androgens regulate the production of these lipids and whether this action may impact tear film stability remain to be determined.
Sullivan
D A
DA
Schepens Eye Research Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. sullivan@vision.eri.harvard.edu
Sullivan
B D
BD
Ullman
M D
MD
Rocha
E M
EM
Krenzer
K L
KL
Cermak
J M
JM
Toda
I
I
Doane
M G
MG
Evans
J E
JE
Wickham
L A
LA
D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007368:Interferometry; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism
D000728:Androgens; D005227:Fatty Acids; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D009277:Nandrolone