Influence of androgens and pituitary hormones on the structural profile and secretory activity of the lacrimal gland

Abstract

The present study was designed to examine the influence of androgens on the size, morphological appearance, and fluid and protein secretory capacity of the lacrimal gland in a variety of species. For comparison, we also sought to determine whether other hormones might stimulate the growth and secretory ability of this tissue. Lacrimal glands and tears were obtained from intact, surgically-operated and/or hormone-treated rats, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits and the processed for histological and/or image analysis techniques. Our results demonstrated that: 1) androgens modulate the ultrastructural features of rat lacrimal tissue; 2) androgens may influence the weight, morphological aspects, and secretion of the lacrimal gland, however, these effects are not uniform in mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits, but instead are dependent upon the species and/or the animal's endocrine status; and 3) treatment with testosterone, prolactin, growth hormone, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone, insulin, or thyroxine plus dexamethasone had no impact on the absolute or relative size of the lacrimal gland, or the tear volume, of hypophysectomized male rats. Overall, these findings indicate that androgens may regulate the structure and secretion of the lacrimal gland. However, the nature and extent of this hormone action is species-dependent and may be modified by alterations in the endocrine environment.

Sex hormones and the dry eye

“…Lacrimal glands of male rabbits are larger and contain a greater number of cells than those of females . Similarly, a reduction of endogenous androgen in castrated male rats induces a change in lacrimal gland appearance to resemble that of female rats . In contrast, testosterone treatment in female and castrated rats, stimulates a change in characteristics toward that of intact males .…”

“…It appears that additional modulation of androgen levels, such as with pituitary gland removal, is required to produce a negative effect on tear volume in male rats . Sex‐ and species‐related differences may exist in the influence of androgen on the lacrimal gland …”

“…103 Androgens are partially accountable for sex-related variations in lacrimal gland characteristics and play an important role in modulating the morphology, biochemistry, molecular biology and secretory immune system of the tissue in various animal species. 107,108 In contrast, the roles of oestrogens and progesterones in the lacrimal gland are unclear. 18,20,109,110 The effects of androgen on the lacrimal gland…”

Dysfunction of Lacrimal and Salivary Glands in Sjögren′s Syndrome: Nonimmunologic Injury in Preinflammatory Phase and Mouse Model

“…The other significant source of androgens is the adrenal cortex, which produces dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its metabolite DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S) [14, 15]. Other than the triggering effects of hormone, influence of androgens and pituitary hormones on the structural profile and secretory activity of the lacrimal gland has been suggested [16]. Tzioufas et al [17] reported that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis appears to be disturbed, since significantly lower basal adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels were found in patients with SjS.…”

Development of Opthalmic Formulation for Dry Eye Syndrome

“…Sinhgad Institute of Pharmacy, Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra, India Stimulation of tear secretion by topical application of melanocyte stimulating hormones is described [3].…”