An Epidemiological Study of pregnancy and Dry Eye

Tear Film and Ocular Surface Evaluation in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

Dry eye syndrome is one of the complaints of diabetic patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the tear functions in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using tests: Schirmer, tear break-up time (TBUT), and tear film osmolarity (TFO) tests and the Ocular Surface Disease Index score (OSDI).

METHODS

Pregnant women with GDM (Group 1, n=46) and healthy pregnant women (Group 2, n=36) were enrolled. Initially, all participants were asked to answer the OSDI and then they underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination including Schirmer, TBUT, and TFO tests. The individuals with ocular or systemic disorders that might affect the tear function tests and who were using topical medications were excluded.

RESULTS

The results of Schirmer, TBUT, TFO tests and OSDI scores were 11.20±4.93 mm, 5.59±2.16 sec, 309.65±14.80 mOsm/L, and 9.59 ± 9.69 in Group 1, respectively, and 12.33±5.33 mm, 5.67±2.68 sec, 308.36±16.00 mOsm/L, and 10.62±8.66 in Group 2, respectively. There was no significant difference in any of the tear function tests and OSDI scores between the study groups (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

GDM seems to have no negative effects on tear function tests. This may be due to a lack of duration of hyperglycemia long enough to affect the tear function tests of pregnant women.

Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase expression changes in the rabbit lacrimal glands during pregnancy

PURPOSE

To investigate the expressional changes of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase subunits in the lacrimal glands (LG) of term pregnant rabbits.

METHODS

LG were obtained from term pregnant rabbits and age-matched female control rabbits for laser capture microdissection (LCM), real time RT-PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence. The mRNA and proteins of α1, α2, β1, β2, and β3 subunits of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase were detected and quantified.

RESULTS

Although only the mRNA for β3 from whole LG of pregnant rabbits was significantly different from that of normal controls, many mRNA levels for α1, α2, β1, β2, and β3 from acini and epithelial cells from various duct segments that were collected by LCM were significantly different from those of normal control rabbits. Western blots demonstrated that the expressions of all three β subunits were significantly higher in pregnant rabbits, while both α subunits remained unchanged during pregnancy. Interestingly, immunofluorescence results showed that the distribution patterns of all Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase subunits during pregnancy were similar to those of the control rabbits.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes were found in mRNA and protein expressions of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase subunits in LG from term pregnant rabbits and these changes suggest a role in the pregnancy-related LG secretion changes and dry eye symptoms observed in these animals.