Corneal Sensory Experience via Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Accelerates the Maturation of Neonatal Tearing.

Tearing maturates rapidly after birth, and external environmental challenges play a key role in promoting lacrimal functional maturation. However, little is known about the facilitative factors underlying this developmental process or the potential of application of these factors to treat hypofunction of the lacrimal gland. In this study, eye opening and the subsequent ocular surface sensory experience, which is thought to be involved in postnatal maturation of lacrimal function, were investigated.

Intravital Two-photon Imaging of Ca signaling in Secretory Organs of Yellow Cameleon Transgenic Mice.

Intracellular calcium ([Ca]i) signaling regulates physiological functions in most cells. In secretory organs, such as the pancreas, salivary gland, and lacrimal gland (LG), [Ca]i elevation in acinar cells triggers fluid secretion, which plays vital roles in the maintenance of functional health across the life-course. It is important to understand the secretory mechanism of secretory organs, but lack of analytic systems available for living animals limits the scope of research to gain deeper insights into the precise mechanism of secretion.

Ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate mimics calorie restriction via the Nrf2 activator, fumarate, in the retina.

Calorie restriction (CR) being the most robust dietary intervention provides various health benefits. D-3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), a major physiological ketone, has been proposed as an important endogenous molecule for CR. To investigate the role of 3HB in CR, we investigated potential shared mechanisms underlying increased retinal 3HB induced by CR and exogenously applied 3HB without CR to protect against ischemic retinal degeneration.

Serotonin hormonally regulates lacrimal gland secretory function via the serotonin type 3a receptor.

Tears are extracellular fluid secreted from the lacrimal gland (LG). Tears consist of a dynamic tri-layered film composed of secretions from the LG, Meibomian gland, and conjunctival goblet cells. The LG secretes the aqueous component of the tear, the Meibomian gland secretes the lipid component, and conjunctival goblet cells secrete mucin.

Restoration of Tear Secretion in a Murine Dry Eye Model by Oral Administration of Palmitoleic Acid.

Sea buckthorn (-derived products have traditionally been used as food and medicinal ingredients in Eastern countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral intake of sea buckthorn oil products on tear secretion using a murine dry eye model. Orally administered sea buckthorn pulp oil (not seed oil) restored aqueous tear secretion to its normal value under a dry eye condition.

Clinical Evaluation of a Royal Jelly Supplementation for the Restoration of Dry Eye: A Prospective Randomized Double Blind Placebo Controlled Study and an Experimental Mouse Model.

Background: Dry eye is a multifactorial disease characterized by ocular discomfort and visual impairment. Lacrimal gland function has been shown to decrease with aging, a known potent risk factor for dry eye. We have previously found that orally administrated royal jelly (RJ) restored tear secretion in a rat model of dry eye.

Dietary Supplementation with a Combination of Lactoferrin, Fish Oil, and Enterococcus faecium WB2000 for Treating Dry Eye: A Rat Model and Human Clinical Study.

Purpose: To examine the effect of a combined dietary supplement containing fish oil, lactoferrin, zinc, vitamin C, lutein, vitamin E, γ-aminobutanoic acid, and Enterococcus faecium WB2000 on dry eye.

Methods: A preliminary study in a rat model and a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in humans were conducted. Forty Japanese volunteers aged 22 to 59 years were randomized into combined dietary supplement (2 capsules/day; 20 participants) and placebo (vehicle; 19 participants) groups and treated once daily for 8 weeks.

Protocadherin-9 involvement in retinal development in Xenopus laevis.

Biological roles of most protocadherins (Pcdhs) are a largely unsolved problem. Therefore, we cloned cDNA for Xenopus laevis protocadherin-9 and characterized its properties to elucidate the role. The deduced amino acid sequence was highly homologous to those of mammalian protocadherin-9 s.