title: Association between very long chain fatty acids in the meibomian gland and dry eye resulting from n-3 fatty acid deficiency.
abstract: In our previously study, we reported lower tear volume in with an n-3 fatty acid deficient mice and that the docosahexaenoic acid and total n-3 fatty acid levels in these mice are significantly reduced in the meibomian gland, which secretes an oily tear product. Furthermore, we noted very long chain fatty acids (≥25 carbons) in the meibomian gland. To verify the detailed mechanism of the low tear volume in the n-3 fatty acid-deficient mice, we identified the very long chain fatty acids in the meibomian gland, measured the fatty acid composition in the tear product. Very long chain fatty acids were found to exist as monoesters. In particular, very long chain fatty acids with 25-29 carbons existed for the most part as iso or anteiso branched-chain fatty acids. n-3 fatty acid deficiency was decreased the amount of meibum secretion from meibomian gland without change of fatty acid composition. These results suggest that the n-3 fatty acid deficiency causes the enhancement of evaporation of tear film by reducing oily tear secretion along with the decrease of meibomian gland function.
authors: Laboratory for Functional Analysis of Marine Materials, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuou, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors: Hideko
authors: H
authors: Tanaka
authors: Laboratory for Functional Analysis of Marine Materials, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuou, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors: Akiko
authors: A
authors: Harauma
authors: Laboratory of Food and Nutritional Science, Department of Food and Life Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuou, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors: Mao
authors: M
authors: Takimoto
authors: Laboratory for Functional Analysis of Marine Materials, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuou, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan; Laboratory of Food and Nutritional Science, Department of Food and Life Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuou, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan. Electronic address: moriguchi@azabu-u.ac.jp.
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Moriguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000172:deficiency; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008297:Male; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000737:chemistry*; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids
keywords: 4,4-dimethyloxazoline; Branched chain fatty acid; GC–MS; Meibomian gland; Picolinyl ester; Very long chain fatty acid