earticle

영어

Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a major adhesive component of fermented soybeans and a natural biodegradable polymer. This study is concerned with the effect of γ-PGA (5,000 kDa) on the dry eye syndrome using induced by daily repeated instillations of 1.0 % atropine sulfate in the rabbit. The evolution of the dry eye syndrome in the animals was assessed by the Schirmer test and by examination of the cornea after fluorescent staining. The model produced rapidly some typical dry eye symptoms and could be satisfactorily used for a preliminary assessment of the protective activity of γ-PGA. Changes in tear production and conjunctival goblet cell counts were investigated after instillation of γ-PGA eye drops in a rabbit dry eye model. No significant differences in tear secretion were observed among γ-PGA treated eyes, hyaluronic acid treated eyes and control eyes. Conjunctival goblet cell density, however, was significantly increased in the γ-PGA-instilled eyes. The results of this study demonstrated that γ-PGA could restore the health of the ocular surface rapidly, possibly because of moisture retention ability, inhibition of hyaluronidase, a hyaluronic acid degradable enzyme, and enhancement of the number of goblet cells.