Effects of Corni Fructus on retinol transport in mice with dry eye syndrome induced by benzalkonium chloride / 中草药

ABSTRACT

objective: To investigate the regulatory effect of Corni Fructus on retinol transport, and to elucidate its molecular mechanism in the treatment of dry eye syndrome and enrich the basis of “acid tonifying liver and improving vision”. Methods: A total of 60 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups with 10 mice in each group, including control group, model group (saline 0.02 mL/g), positive control group (Dendrobium Nocturnal Pills 2.9 g/kg), Corni Fructus low, medium, and high dose group (12, 24, and 48 g/kg). The dry eye model mice were induced by the benzalkonium chloride eye drops. After successful modeling, mice were treated with different doses of Corni Fructus decoction for four consecutive weeks. One hour after the last dose, the intervention of Corni Fructus decoction on dry eye model mice was evaluated by determining the amount of tear secretion and tear film rupture time. The content of serum preprotein (PA), RBP, and retinol in liver was detected by ELISA method. The expression of CRBP and STRA6 in lacrimal gland was detected by IHC and Western blotting. Results: Compared with the control group, the tear secretion and tear film rupture time in the model group were significantly decreased, and the serum PA, RBP, and the content of vitamin A in the liver of the other groups were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of serum PA, RBP, and vitamin A in liver were significantly increased in each drug intervention group (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the content of CRBP and STRA6 in the lacrimal gland of the model group decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the content of CRBP and STRA6 in the lacrimal gland of each drug intervention group was significantly higher than those in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Conclusion: During the occurrence of dry eye, there are vitamin A deficiency and retinoic acid abnormal transportion in the body. The acid drug Corni Fructus can improve the status of vitamin A deficiency by increasing the absorption of vitamin A, and then regulate the process of retinol transport. This may be one of the molecular mechanisms of acid entering the liver and improving vision.