title: Variations of lacrimal fluid peroxidase activity in female and male rats.
abstract: Previous research from this laboratory showed that human lacrimal fluid peroxidase has cyclic variations during the menstrual cycle, correlated with plasma levels of 17beta-oestradiol. In the present investigation, variations of enzyme activity and total protein content during the oestrous cycle of young adult female rats are analysed. Effects from circadian rhythm and a gender-related influence are also examined. In female rats, as in women, lacrimal fluid peroxidase activity shows cyclic variations; in fact, it significantly (p < 0.05) changes during the different phases of the oestrous cycle. In contrast, in males such variations do not occur. Thus, we suggest that gender seems to exert a significant influence on the secretion of this specific tear protein, probably by a direct effect of oestrogens.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacologia delle Sostanze Naturali e Fisiologia Generale, Università degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza', Roma, Italia. Federica.madia@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Madia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liberati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Feo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marcozzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012737:Sex Factors; D013666:Tears / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D010544:Peroxidases