We employed a monoclonal antibody to cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (CRABP) to assess the presence and localization of this retinoid-binding protein in the lacrimal gland of the rat. Immunoblots of extracts of rat lacrimal gland showed specific immunostaining of lacrimal CRABP in the region 14-16 kDa. Sections of rat lacrimal glands that were stained with anti-CRABP antibodies showed re...

Qualitative and quantitative abnormalities in primary components of the tear can alter the dynamics of the lacrimal film, compromising its function. Lipids, an aqueous fraction and mucoproteins constitute the lacrimal film. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is a disease commonly diagnosed in dogs. It is characterized by the deficiency of the aqueous fraction in the lacrimal film that results in ...

In order to determine the source of the retinol which has been identified in the tear fluid, the lacrimal gland ducts of rabbits and rats were cannulated and the collected lacrimal gland fluid was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Retinol was identified in the lacrimal gland fluid of rabbits and rats, and it is concluded that the lacrimal gland is the source of retinol in the ...

BACKGROUND Treatment of lacrimal sac abscess of the traditional surgical approach may result in complications from cutaneous fistula formation, damage the sac, cause skin scarring and even have the potential for inducing cicatricial ectropion. We designed a new treatment scheme that is expected to achieve internal drainage with the use of lacrimal probe and crawford silicon tube. METHODS A pr...

PURPOSE To sequence and comprehensively analyze human and mouse lacrimal gland transcriptomes as part of the NEIBank project. METHODS cDNA libraries generated from normal human and mouse lacrimal glands were sequenced and analyzed by PHRED, RepeatMasker, BLAST, and GRIST. Human "lacrimal-preferred genes" and putative gene regulatory elements were respectively identified in UniGene and ConSite...

Ectopic lacrimal gland tissue is rarely found within the eye. The first report was that of Puech (i 887) who described an adenoma of the choroid in an adult female. The lesion had the appearance of lacrimal gland tissue which was adherent to the sclera and the retina. After an interval of 65 years Christensen and Anderson (I 952) described ectopic lacrimal gland tissue within the sclera, ciliar...

Dear Editor, Recently, we experienced two cases of lacrimal sac tumors discovered in patients who presented with persistent epiphora after receiving dacryocystorhynostomy (DCR). A 75-year-old female visited the clinic complaining persistent epiphora in the right eye for 5 years. The patient was diagnosed with nasolacrimal duct obstruction in the right eye and received a DCR twice 2 years ago at...

PURPOSE In lacrimal glands, cell-cell interactions control the localization of lymphocyte populations that play a role in immune defense at the ocular surface. This study describes lymphocyte adhesive interactions with cultured lacrimal gland acinar epithelial cells. METHODS Primary cultures of lacrimal gland epithelial cells were used as targets for in vitro lymphocyte binding assays. The re...

BACKGROUND High-frequency B scan ultrasonography is a proven method for the assessment of anterior segment diseases. Only few studies have used sonography to examine the lacrimal drainage system. We examined the proximal lacrimal drainage system by high-resolution 20-MHz ultrasound to verify the possibility to identify intracanalicular lacrimal plugs. METHODS Eight patients who had received 1...

PURPOSE To date, mouse lacrimal gland epithelial cells have been cultured successfully but only in cases involving newborn mouse lacrimal glands. In this work, we attempted to cultivate and characterize adult mouse lacrimal gland epithelial cells. METHODS Lacrimal glands were removed from newborn mice (C57B/6) and isolated lacrimal gland epithelial cells were seeded onto tissue culture treate...