Variability of Dry Eye Disease Following Removal of Lacrimal Glands in Rats.

Removal of lacrimal glands is used as a viable model of dry eye disease in rats. However, there is no uniform agreement on the disease severity following different variants of the procedure. The interpretation of the modeled dry eye disease also is biased by the interchangeable use of male and female rats.

Effect of TMAO, a Gut-Bacteria Metabolite, on Dry Eye in a Rat Model.

Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) is an osmolyte used by saltwater animals to protect their cells from hyperosmotic environment. Here, we studied if TMAO may exert beneficial effect in dry eye disease (DED) which results from hyperosmotic tear film. Female, 12-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats underwent either removal of extra- and infraorbital lacrimal glands (dry eye group) or sham surgery (sham group).