title: [Experimental study on efficiency of Spanishneedles Herb eye drops in treating perimenopausal xerophthalmia in rabbits].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficiency of Spanishneedles Herb eye drops in treating perimenopausal xerophthalmia in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 36 rabbits (36 right eyes) were ovariectomized, and 2 months later divided into three groups: the experimental group (group A, n = 12) given Spanishneedles Herb eye drops, the control group (group B, n = 12) given PBS and the model group (group C, n = 12) given no drug. The Schirmer I test (SIT), fluorescent (FL), total tear protein, diastase activity, lactoferrin and lysozyme contents and confocal scanning microscopy were performed at before the treatment and at 1 w, 2 w, 1 mo, 2 mo after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the treatment, There was no significant difference in SIT, FL, total tear protein, lysozyme, lactoferrin and amylase activity between two groups. Two months later after the treatment, both the group B and the group A showed differences degrees of changes in SIT, FL, total tear protein, lysozyme, lactoferrin and amylase activity compared with that before the treatment, with statistical differences (P < 0.05); At each time point, both groups revealed statistical differences in SIT, FL, total tear protein, lysozyme, lactoferrin and amylase activity (1 < 0.05). Two months later alter the treatment, densities of basal epithelial cells and inflammatory cells in the group A were (4 122 ±416) cells/mm2 and (339 ± 131) cells/mm2, while that in the group B were (3 343 ± 424) cells/mm2 and (49 ± 17) cells/mm2, with statistical differences between them (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spanishneedles Herb eye drops could effectively treat perimenopausal xerophthalmia in rabbit caused by sex hormones decline.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chong-gang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Gui-ping
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D014985:Xerophthalmia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions