Pathogenic Mechanism of Dry Eye-Induced Chronic Ocular Pain and a Mechanism-Based Therapeutic Approach.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Dry eye-induced chronic ocular pain is also called ocular neuropathic pain. However, details of the pathogenic mechanism remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of dry eye-induced chronic pain in the anterior eye area and develop a pathophysiology-based therapeutic strategy.

Methods

We used a rat dry eye model with lacrimal gland excision (LGE) to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of ocular neuropathic pain. Corneal epithelial damage, hypersensitivity, and hyperalgesia were evaluated on the LGE side and compared with the sham surgery side. We analyzed neuronal activity, microglial and astrocytic activity, α2δ-1 subunit expression, and inhibitory interneurons in the trigeminal nucleus. We also evaluated the therapeutic effe

SUBMITTER: Tei Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8742529 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature