Analysis of tear mucin and goblet cells in patients with conjunctivochalasis

作者：Zhang, XingRu^*; Li, QingSong; Xiang, MinHong; Cai, RuiXia; Yu, Zhang

来源：Spektrum der Augenheilkunde, 2010, 24(4): 206-213.

DOI：10.1007/s00717-010-0425-7

• Conjunctivochalasis
• Schirmer I test
• tear film break-up time
• tear fern test
• conjunctival goblet cells
• histopathology

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the variation in the tear functions and the histopathological and ultrastructural changes in conjunctival goblet cells during conjunctivochalasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients with conjunctivochalasis (60 eyes), as well as the same number of healthy control patients, were recruited for this study. These patients were assessed by measuring the tear film 'break-up time' (BUT), by performing the Schirmer I test and by performing the Tear Ferning Test (TFT). The histopathological and ultrastructural changes of 10 tissue samples from the two aforementioned experimental groups were examined and compared after PAS, AB and HE staining. RESULTS: Compared with the control group (14.40 +/- 3.68 s), the mean tear film BUT for the conjunctivochalasis patients (7.72 +/- 2.90 s) was found to be significantly lower (P < 0.05). In addition, the mean value of the Schirmer I test (conjunctivochalasis, 13.20 +/- 4.07; control group, 16.73 +/- 4.41, P < 0.05) was significantly lower in the patients with conjunctivochalasis compared to their counterparts in control group. The amount of TFT measured in the patients with conjunctivochalasis was also found to be significantly less than the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the goblet cell density from the conjunctival epithelium tissue samples for the patients with conjunctivochalasis was 2.75 +/- 2.68/100 epithelium cells, while a value of 4.64 +/- 3.25/100 epithelium cells was obtained for the control group, yet, this difference was not statistically significant (T = 1.42, P = 0.172). The conjunctival goblet cell density also decreased significantly with increased severity of the conjunctivochalasis and the corresponding cells were found to be characterized by an abnormal morphology and ultrastructure. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the tear film stability, tear secretion, tear mucin content and conjunctival goblet cell quantity were found to decrease during conjunctivochalasis. In addition, these cells were characterized by changes in ultrastructure.

• 出版日期2010-8
• 单位上海中医药大学