Chongqing Medical University, Jiulongpo District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing.
Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan.
Eur J Histochem. 2021 Apr 1;65(2):3198. doi: 10.4081/ejh.2021.3198.
The therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of astragaloside IV on a rabbits dry eye model induced by benzalkonium chloride (BAC) was examined. In our study, a BAC-induced dry eye rabbit model was treated with eye drops containing astragaloside IV (5, 10 μM) or solvent four times a day. The clinical evaluations, such as tear break-up time (BUT) and Schirmer tear test (STT), were performed on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. On day 28, the cornea and bulbar conjunctiva tissues (left eye and right eye) were collected with histology, and immunofluorescent staining conducted. The levels of MUC1 and ErbB1in the corneas were determined by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and the proteins levels of MUC1 and ErbB1 were detected by Western blot. It was demonstrated that both astragaloside IV (5, 10 μM) treatments resulted in an increased STT and BUT on days 7, 14, 21 and 28. Additionally, the astragaloside IV (5, 10 μM)-treated group showed increasing PAS-positive goblet cells than model group (0 μM). Moreover, the MUC1 in model group (0 μM) was decreased, while the expression of MUC1 in astragaloside IV (5, 10 μM) group was increased. Furthermore, astragaloside IV had a protective effect on BAC-induced rabbits' dry eye and demonstrated clinical improvements, which indicated that astragaloside IV served as a potential protective agent in the clinical treatment of dry eye.
研究黄芪甲苷（Astragaloside IV，AS-IV）对苯扎氯铵（Benzalkonium chloride，BAC）诱导的兔干眼症模型的治疗作用及其潜在机制。
本研究采用 BAC 诱导的兔干眼症模型，每天用含 AS-IV（5、10 μM）或溶剂的滴眼液滴眼 4 次。在第 0、7、14、21 和 28 天进行临床评估，如泪膜破裂时间（tear break-up time，BUT）和泪液分泌试验（Schirmer tear test，STT）。在第 28 天，采集角膜和球结膜组织（左眼和右眼）进行组织学和免疫荧光染色。通过实时定量 PCR（real-time quantitative PCR，qRT-PCR）测定角膜中 MUC1 和 ErbB1 的水平，通过 Western blot 检测 MUC1 和 ErbB1 的蛋白水平。
AS-IV（5、10 μM）治疗可增加 STT 和 BUT，第 7、14、21 和 28 天更为显著。与模型组（0 μM）相比，AS-IV（5、10 μM）治疗组的 PAS 阳性杯状细胞增多。模型组（0 μM）的 MUC1 减少，而 AS-IV（5、10 μM）组的 MUC1 表达增加。
AS-IV 对 BAC 诱导的兔干眼症具有保护作用，临床症状改善，表明 AS-IV 可能成为干眼症临床治疗的潜在保护剂。
