title: Use of linseed oil to treat experimentally induced keratoconjunctivitis sicca in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of various linseed oil (LO) preparations (oral, topical, oral and topical combined) in treating experimentally induced keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in rabbits. Twenty male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four groups: group C (control), group OLO (oral LO), group TLO (topical LO), and group OTLO (oral and topical LO). The animals were evaluated weekly using Schirmer's tear test (STT), fluorescein test (FT), and Rose Bengal test (RBT) and were euthanized at the end of the experiment for histopathological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant improvements in the parameters analyzed (STT, FT, and RBT) and in the histopathological finding in all of the groups using LO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analyzed results demonstrate that LO, administered orally or topically, was effective in treating experimentally induced KCS in rabbits, although combined oral and topical LO did not show additional benefits greater than those with a single route of administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine, University of Oeste Paulista (UNOESTE), Rodovia Raposo Tavares, Km 572, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, 19001-970, Brazil. silviafranco@unoeste.br.
authors.forename: Magda Luzia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Letícia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Osimar de Carvalho
authors.initials: Ode C
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.forename: Marcelo Sávio Paiva
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: do Amaral
authors.forename: Helaine
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stevanin
authors.forename: Rogério
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giuffrida
authors.forename: Eudes Ramalho
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Candido
authors.forename: Jonatas Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Góes
authors.forename: Luís Felipe da Costa
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zulim
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schweigert
authors.forename: Rosimery Missuzu
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: Carlos Collares
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Meirelles
authors.forename: Carolina Akemi
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Silvia Franco
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Andrade