Dartt Darlene A
Schepens Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Exp Eye Res. 2004 Mar;78(3):337-45. doi: 10.1016/s0014-4835(03)00202-1.
The lacrimal gland is the primary source for the aqueous portion of the tear film. This portion contains water, electrolytes and proteins, which are necessary for the health and maintenance of the cells of the ocular surface. Afferent sensory nerves in the cornea and conjunctiva stimulate efferent parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves in the lacrimal gland. Cholinergic agonists, released from parasympathetic nevres, and norepinephrine, released from sympathetic nerves, are major stimuli of lacrimal gland secretion. These neurotransmitters activate distinct, but overlapping signal transduction pathways leading to lacrimal gland secretion. Other stimuli of lacrimal gland secretion are the EGF family of growth factors. In addition to stimulation of secretion, these growth factors can interact with the cells of the lacrimal gland themselves or with the cells of the ocular surface depending upon the location from which these growth factors are released. This review will focus on the effects of the EGF family of growth factors on the lacrimal gland and their interactions with the pathways stimulated by the neurotransmitters released from nerves.
泪腺是泪膜水样部分的主要来源。这部分含有水、电解质和蛋白质，它们对于眼表细胞的健康和维持是必需的。角膜和结膜中的传入感觉神经刺激泪腺中的传出副交感神经和交感神经。副交感神经释放的胆碱能激动剂和交感神经释放的去甲肾上腺素是泪腺分泌的主要刺激物。这些神经递质激活不同但重叠的信号转导途径，导致泪腺分泌。泪腺分泌的其他刺激物是表皮生长因子（EGF）家族。除了刺激分泌外，这些生长因子可根据其释放位置与泪腺自身细胞或眼表细胞相互作用。本综述将重点关注EGF家族生长因子对泪腺的影响及其与神经释放的神经递质所刺激途径的相互作用。
