Purpose

This study investigated structural changes in rat meibomian glands following repeated and sustained application of external pressure on the eyelids using a magnet and then subsequent removal of the external pressure.

Methods

Twenty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The upper eyelid was externally compressed using a pair of magnets. One magnet was placed inside the upper eyelid, another was placed outside the eyelid, and varying periods of pressure were investigated. Untreated eyes were used as controls. Meibography was performed, and the transverse eyelid tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and anti-cytokeratin 5 antibody at one hour, two and four weeks after removing the magnets.

Results

Meibography showed increased meibomian gland loss (30.0 ± 5.0%), and tissue sections showed decreased area of secretory acini (0.04 ± 0.08 mm²) at one hour after applying external pressure using magnets versus in the control eyes (5.0 ± 5.0% and 0.08 ± 0.08 mm², respectively). On the other hand, there was no meibomian gland loss or reduction of the area of secretory acini at two and four weeks after removing the magnets in comparison with the control eyes.

Conclusions

Repeated and sustained application of external pressure on the eyelid could induce meibomian gland loss; however, this meibomian gland loss can be restored when the external pressure is removed. Therefore, the repeated application of external pressure on the eyelid is a safe treatment method for obstructive MGD.

中文翻译：

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眼睑外压对大鼠睑板腺结构的影响

目的

这项研究调查了大鼠睑板腺在使用磁铁对眼睑反复和持续施加外部压力，然后随后去除外部压力后的结构变化。

方法

使用了二十八只 Sprague-Dawley 大鼠。使用一对磁铁从外部压缩上眼睑。一块磁铁放在上眼睑内，另一块放在眼睑外，并研究不同时期的压力。未处理的眼睛用作对照。进行眼睑造影术，并在移除磁铁后一小时、两周和四周用苏木精和伊红以及抗细胞角蛋白5抗体对横向眼睑组织切片进行染色。

结果

Meibography 显示睑板腺损失增加 (30.0 ± 5.0%)，组织切片显示在使用磁铁施加外部压力后一小时，与对照眼相比，分泌腺泡面积减少 (0.04 ± 0.08 mm ² )（5.0 ± 5.0% 和 0.08 ± 0.08 毫米²，分别）。另一方面，与对照眼相比，移除磁铁后两周和四个星期没有睑板腺丢失或分泌腺泡面积减少。

结论

反复和持续地对眼睑施加外部压力会导致睑板腺丢失；然而，当移除外部压力时，可以恢复这种睑板腺损失。因此，在眼睑上反复施加外部压力是阻塞性MGD的安全治疗方法。