Figure 8
Experimental design of in vivo study. Dry eye was experimentally induced in sixty 12- to 16-week-old NOD.B10.H2b mice by subcutaneous injections of scopolamine and exposure to an air draft for 10 days. Ten days later, the mice were randomly divided into five groups: the normal saline group (n = 13, 5 μL of normal saline), the Hyp-GQDGLAGPK group (n = 13, 5 μL of 1% Hyp-GQDGLAGPK), the cyclosporine group (n = 13, 5 μL of Cyporin® N 0.05%), the diquafosol group (n = 13, 5 μL of Diquas® ophthalmic solution 3%), and the sodium hyaluronate group (n = 13, 5 μL of Hyaluni® 0.1%). All treatments were administered five times per day. Tear volume and corneal smoothness were measured at baseline; after 10 days of desiccation stress; and after treatment for 3, 5, 7, and 10 days. Histopathologic analysis was performed before desiccation stress (n = 8, 16 eyes), immediately after desiccation stress for 10 days (n = 13, 26 eyes), and 10 days after treatment with Hyp-GQDGLAGPK, cyclosporine, diquafosol, and sodium hyaluronate eye drops, respectively (n = 13, 26 eyes).
