title: A rabbit model of lower eyelid fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To create and validate a new model of lower eyelid fibrosis in Dutch-belted rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five Dutch-belted rabbits were injected with a transcutaneous 1-ml injection of standard 95% ethanol alcohol just inferior to the eyelid margin of one lower eyelid. A control injection of 1 ml of balanced saline solution was given to the opposite eyelid. A small tattoo was placed on the skin overlying the inferior orbital rim and used as a measuring point of reference in relation to the lower eyelid margin. Analysis was twofold: eyelid measurements were made over 8 weeks to determine the presence of eyelid shortening, and a histopathologic analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean lower eyelid shortening was greater in the ethanol alcohol intervention eyelids than the control group (-3.4 mm +/- 1.67 mm vs. 0.5 mm +/- 0.71 mm, p = 0.01). Histopathologic analysis revealed extensive fibrosis in the ethanol alcohol invention eyelids compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ethanol alcohol induces eyelid fibrosis and lower eyelid shortening. This may be a useful model in the future testing of novel surgical or pharmacologic treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. gigriepe@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Griepentrog
authors.forename: D J John
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Renzo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zaldivar
authors.forename: Jose S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pulido
authors.forename: J Douglas
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Woog
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D005143:Eyelids / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol