title: Effect of Retinol Palmitate on Corneal and Conjunctival Mucin Gene Expression in a Rat Dry Eye Model After Injury.
abstract: We examined the wound-healing effect of retinol palmitate (VApal) on mucin gene and protein expressions in a rat dry eye model based on lacrimal gland (LG) resection after injury.
  
  
  
  The rat dry eye model was prepared by surgical resection of the main LG in male Long-Evans rats. After alkaline injury of the central part of the lower palpebral conjunctiva bilaterally, VApal eye drops at 1,500 IU/mL in one eye and a vehicle in the fellow eye were both administered 6 times a day for 7 days. The expression of mucin gene and protein was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the cornea and conjunctiva of MUC1, MUC4, MUC16, and MUC5AC after 1, 3, (5), and 7 days of treatment with VApal.
  
  
  
  Significant decreases in fluorescein-stained areas and rose bengal scores were observed in VApal-treated dry eyes compared with vehicle-treated dry eyes at both 3 (P < 0.05) and 7 days (P < 0.01). Significant increases in corneal rMuc4 and conjunctival rMuc5AC after 1 day (P < 0.01) and conjunctival rMuc16 gene expression after 3 days were observed with VApal treatment (P < 0.05). Furthermore, conjunctival MUC16 expression significantly increased after 3 days of VApal treatment (P < 0.05).
  
  
  
  VApal promoted corneal rMuc4, conjunctival rMuc5AC, and conjunctival rMuc16 gene expression in a rat dry eye model after injury. VApal also promoted conjunctival MUC16 expression. These results indicate that VApal has efficacy in improving keratoconjunctival epithelial damage associated with decreased tear production.
authors.affiliation: 1 Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories No.1, Research and Development Headquarters , Lion Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan .
authors.forename: Nobuhito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tabuchi
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital , Shizuoka, Japan .
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toshida
authors.affiliation: 1 Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories No.1, Research and Development Headquarters , Lion Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan .
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.affiliation: 3 Human and Environmental Safety Evaluation Center, Research and Development Headquarters , Lion Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan .
authors.forename: Akito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Odaka
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Medical Center East , Tokyo, Japan .
authors.forename: Chikako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suto
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital , Shizuoka, Japan .
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine , Tokyo, Japan .
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murakami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004224:Diterpenes; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D009077:Mucins; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate
keywords: cornea; dry eye; gene expression; tears; wound healing