Jingjing Wang1, Mindy Call2, Maureen Mongan1, Winston Whei-Yang Kao2, Ying Xia3. 1. Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA. 3. Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA. Electronic address: ying.xia@uc.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Meibomian glands (MGs) play an important role in the maintenance of ocular surface health, but the mechanisms of their development are still poorly understood. The MGs arise from the epithelium at the junction of eyelid fusion, raising the possibility that defective eyelid fusion disturbs the formation of MGs. METHODS: We examined, histologically and functionally, the development of MGs in mice with either normal or defective eyelid fusion, displaying eye-closed at birth (ECB) or eye-open at birth (EOB) phenotypes, respectively. RESULTS: The Meibomian anlage was detected in the epithelium at the eyelid fusion junction immediately after birth at postnatal day 0 (PD0), and it extended into the eyelid stroma at PD1 and started to branch and produce meibum at PD7 in the ECB mice. In contrast, few if any MG structures were detectable in the EOB mice in the early postnatal periods. The Meibomian gland ductile system was seen aligned along the eyelid margin in the adult ECB mice, but was absent or scarce in that of the EOB mice. While MG abnormalities were found in all EOB mice, the severity varied and corresponded to the position and the size of eye opening but not the genetic defects of the mice. CONCLUSION: Proper Meibomian gland formation and development require eyelid closure and fusion.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Meibomian glands (MGs) play an important role in the maintenance of ocular surface health, but the mechanisms of their development are still poorly understood. The MGs arise from the epithelium at the junction of eyelid fusion, raising the possibility that defective eyelid fusion disturbs the formation of MGs. METHODS: We examined, histologically and functionally, the development of MGs in mice with either normal or defective eyelid fusion, displaying eye-closed at birth (ECB) or eye-open at birth (EOB) phenotypes, respectively. RESULTS: The Meibomian anlage was detected in the epithelium at the eyelid fusion junction immediately after birth at postnatal day 0 (PD0), and it extended into the eyelid stroma at PD1 and started to branch and produce meibum at PD7 in the ECBmice. In contrast, few if any MG structures were detectable in the EOBmice in the early postnatal periods. The Meibomian gland ductile system was seen aligned along the eyelid margin in the adult ECBmice, but was absent or scarce in that of the EOBmice. While MG abnormalities were found in all EOBmice, the severity varied and corresponded to the position and the size of eye opening but not the genetic defects of the mice. CONCLUSION: Proper Meibomian gland formation and development require eyelid closure and fusion.
Authors: Cindy Tsau; Masataka Ito; Anastasia Gromova; Matthew P Hoffman; Robyn Meech; Helen P Makarenkova Journal: Development Date: 2011-08 Impact factor: 6.868
Authors: Stephen S Lane; Harvey B DuBiner; Randy J Epstein; Paul H Ernest; Jack V Greiner; David R Hardten; Edward J Holland; Michael A Lemp; James E McDonald; David I Silbert; Caroline A Blackie; Christy A Stevens; Raman Bedi Journal: Cornea Date: 2012-04 Impact factor: 2.651