title: Effects of Topical Fucosyl-Lactose, a Milk Oligosaccharide, on Dry Eye Model: An Example of Nutraceutical Candidate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colostrum has been proposed to treat severe dryness and problematic eye lesions showing a beneficial effect. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of 2-fucosyl-lactose, a natural sugar present in the human colostrum, in an experimental dry eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dry eye was induced in adult male New Zealand albino rabbits by topical administration of 1% atropine. Tear volume (Schirmer's test), tear film breakup time (TBUT), corneal staining and tear osmolarity were assessed. Fucosyl-lactose eye drops was instilled at different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, and, 1%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 24 h from first atropine administration, tear volume and TBUT values were significantly improved in groups treated with 2-fucosyl-lactose in a dose-dependent manner. Tear volume increased from 5.25 to 10.75 mm and TBUT values from 8.75 to 34.5 s with 0.01% or 1% 2-fucosyl-lactose treatment, respectively. No changes were observed in terms of corneal staining among the all groups treated with 2-fucosyl-lactose. Atropine instillation caused an increase of tear osmolarity (428 mOsm/L), which was reversed by topical treatment with 2-fucosyl-lactose at all doses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrated that 2-fucosyl-lactose, a human milk oligosaccharide, has protective effect on tear film stability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania , Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bucolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology, Center for Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome , Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania , Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salomone
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania , Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania , Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Marco
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Leggio
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Catania , Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gagliano
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Catania , Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reibaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Catania , Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Avitabile
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Catania , Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Uva
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania , Catania, Italy ; Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, The Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania , Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drago
keywords: colostrum; dry eye; fucosyl-lactose; milk oligosaccharides; nutraceutical compound