A Hypothalamic-Controlled Neural Reflex Promotes Corneal Inflammation.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To test whether an acute corneal injury activates a proinflammatory reflex, involving corneal sensory nerves expressing substance P (SP), the hypothalamus, and the sympathetic nervous system.

Methods

C57BL6/N (wild-type [WT]) and SP-depleted B6.Cg-Tac1tm1Bbm/J (TAC1-KO) mice underwent bilateral corneal alkali burn. One group of WT mice received oxybuprocaine before alkali burn. One hour later, hypothalamic neuronal activity was assessed in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging and ex vivo by cFOS staining. Some animals were followed up for 14 days to evaluate corneal transparency and inflammation. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression was assessed in brain sections. Sympathetic neuron activation was

SUBMITTER: Lasagni Vitar RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8556564 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature