Corneal Sensory Experience via Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Accelerates the Maturation of Neonatal Tearing

Kai Jin, Toshihiro Imada, Shigeru Nakamura, Yusuke Izuta, Erina Oonishi, Michiko Shibuya, Hisayo Sakaguchi, Hirotaka Tanabe, Masataka Ito, Kimiaki Katanosaka, Kazuo Tsubota

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Tearing maturates rapidly after birth, and external environmental challenges play a key role in promoting lacrimal functional maturation. However, little is known about the facilitative factors underlying this developmental process or the potential of application of these factors to treat hypofunction of the lacrimal gland. In this study, eye opening and the subsequent ocular surface sensory experience, which is thought to be involved in postnatal maturation of lacrimal function, were investigated. Our results demonstrated that eye opening after birth is essential for the maturation of neonatal tearing. The maturation process of lacrimal function is dependent on the ocular surface sensory experience via transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily member 1 after birth. This study provides, for the first time, important evidence of the sensory experience of the ocular surface in relation to the maturation of functional tear secretion during the postnatal period.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1699-1710
Number of pages12
JournalAmerican Journal of Pathology
Volume189
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019 Sept

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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