Optimization of a Rabbit Dry Eye Model Induced by Topical Instillation of Benzalkonium Chloride
Table 2
Values of all the parameters under study before (pre) and after (post) the instillation of saline solution (control) and 0.2% benzalkonium chloride (BAC) for 5 days.
Parameter
Group
Mean ± SD
value
Pre
Post
Tear secretion without anesthesia (μL)
Control
11.90 ± 2.89
8.40 ± 4.12
0.032
0.2% BAC
9.60 ± 3.13
17.80 ± 4.69
0.008
Tear secretion with anesthesia (μL)
Control
5.80 ± 1.03
6.00 ± 1.15
0.414
0.2% BAC
6.60 ± 0.52
4.60 ± 0.84
0.004
Tear breakup time (s)
Control
5.03 ± 1.82
3.90 ± 1.39
0.036
0.2% BAC
4.30 ± 1.15
1.27 ± 0.34
0.005
Tear osmolarity (mOsm/L)
Control
309.70 ± 13.66
332.80 ± 13.49
0.008
0.2% BAC
313.00 ± 12.75
296.10 ± 11.71
0.014
Corneal staining (score)
Control
1.40 ± 0.70
1.70 ± 0.95
0.405
0.2% BAC
1.40 ± 0.70
4.00 ± 0.00
0.004
Conjunctival hyperemia (score)
Control
0.10 ± 0.32
0.10 ± 0.32
1.000
0.2% BAC
0.30 ± 0.68
3.40 ± 0.52
0.004
Density of goblet cells (cells/mm2)
Control
683.57 ± 77.63
636.19 ± 140.20
0.304
0.2% BAC
703.12 ± 75.76
250.89 ± 77.71
<0.001
Height of mucin cloud (μm)
Control
27.48 ± 0.74
26.71 ± 0.79
0.469
0.2% BAC
27.72 ± 0.54
15.76 ± 0.63
<0.001
Expression levels of IL-6 (fold change)
Control
0.020 ± 0.031
0.017 ± 0.008
0.770
0.2% BAC
0.032 ± 0.063
0.322 ± 0.252
0.002
Statistical comparison was done between pre and postvalues. , Student’s t-test for paired samples. , the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
