Figure 1.
The results of Schirmer's tests in all groups.
Schirmer's test results show decreased aqueous tear secretion compared to pre-treatment secretion levels on days 0, 7 and 21 after the cessation of BAC treatment. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, respectively. Compared with pre-treatment, the differences were statistically significant on days 0 and 7 in the BAC-W2, BAC-W3, and BAC-W4 groups as well as on days 0, 7 and 14 in Group BAC-W5. The values shown are average wetted lengths ± standard deviations.
Figure 2.
The scores for sodium fluorescein staining in all groups.
Compared with the pre-treatment group, there were significant differences on days 0, 7 and 14 after the cessation of BAC treatment in the BAC-W2, BAC-W3, BAC-W4, and BAC-W5 groups.
Figure 3.
The number of goblet cells in all groups.
Compared with the goblet cell densities in normal eyes, there were significant differences on days 0, 7 and 14 in Group BAC-W2, and on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 in Groups BAC-W3, BAC-W4 and BAC-W5. In the last of these (Group BAC-W5), there were no significant differences in goblet cell density between days 0 and 21. The values shown are averages±standard deviations.
Figure 4.
Representative examples of CIC in each group.
Each group showed evidence of having an abundance of goblet cells, and the goblet cells were oval in shape and full when normal. On day 0, there were only a few goblet cells in all of the groups, and these goblet cells were irregularly shaped. This difference from baseline could be observed on days 0, 7 and 14 in Group BAC-W2 and on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 in groups BAC-W3, BAC-W4 and BAC-W5.
Figure 5.
Representative images of immunofluorescence staining in all groups.
Prior to treatment, the staining pattern for mucin MUC5AC, which is primarily secreted by the goblet cells, was abundant, and the cells that secrete it were plump and oval in shape. On day 0, the presence of MUC5AC was rare in all of the groups, and the shapes of cells that contained MUC5AC were irregular. This change could also be observed on days 0, 7, 14 in Group BAC-W2; and on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 in Groups BAC-W3, BAC-W4 and BAC-W5.
Figure 6.
Representative pictures of HE staining of the corneas from each of the four groups.
Normal corneas had three to five epithelial layers. Damage to the epithelium could be observed on days 0 and 7 in the four groups.
Figure 7.
Representative images from scanning electron microscopy.
Compared with normal eyes, there were fewer microvilli, and these microvilli were shorter and less regularly arranged on days 0 and 7 in Groups BAC-W2, BAC-W3 and BAC-W4, and on days 0, 7, and 21 in Group BAC-W5.
Figure 8.
Representative images from transmission electron microscopy.
Compared with images from normal eyes, swelling of the mitochondria, Golgi apparati and RER could be observed on day 0 in Group BAC-W2, on days 0 and 7 in Groups BAC-W3 and BAC-W4, and on days 0, 7, and 21 in Group BAC-W5.
Figure 9.
Representative images from transmission electron microscopy that revealed the ultrastructure of the corneal epithelium.
Compared with normal eyes, vacuoles between the cells could be observed on day 0 in Group BAC-W2 and on days 0, 7, and 21 in Groups BAC-W3, BAC-W4. These vacuoles were particularly prominent among samples from Group BAC-W5.
Figure 10.
Representative images from transmission electron microscopy showing the conjunctival epithelial ultrastructure.
Compared with normal eyes, fewer goblet cells and secretary granules were observed on day 0 in Groups BAC-W2 and BAC-W3, and on days 0, 7, and 21 in Group BAC-W4. This loss of goblet cells and secretary granules was particularly pronounced in Group BAC-W5 on all of the days that were studied. Chromatin condensation and peripheral migration could be observed on days 0, 7, and 21 in Group BAC-W5.