376 



Scientific Proceedings (124). 



183 (1930) 



Lesions in the lacrimal glands of rats in experimental 

 xerophthalmia. 1 



By A. M. YUDKIN and R. A. LAMBERT. 



[From the Departments of Pathology and Physiological Chemistry, 

 Yale University, New Haven, Conn.] 



The marked changes in lacrimal secretion associated with 

 experimental xerophthalmia, suggested a study of the lacrimal 

 glands of animals suffering from this condition. Young rats 

 weighing from 45 to 50 grams were subjected to a diet deficient 

 in fat-soluble A. The diet consisted of casein, mineral salts, 

 starch, lard, and yeast. There were 24 animals in the series in- 

 cluding 6 with early eye changes, 8 with advanced changes, 4 

 cured cases and 6 normal controls. In the early 6 cases the lacri- 

 mal glands appeared little altered, although in some the glandular 

 epithelium looked to be somewhat modified, the cells being mark- 

 edly vacuolated and quite ragged in outline. Of the 8 advanced 

 cases, one showed a widespread suppurative inflammatory process 

 with polymorphonuclear leukocytes filling the tubules. In three 

 there were foci of necrosis, which were quite numerous in one in- 

 stance. In the four remaining cases the parenchymal cells were 

 possibly slightly altered. Three out of four cured cases showed 

 mononuclear cell accumulations, foci of atrophy, or fibrosis. In 

 the glands of the six normal animals definite changes were found 

 in one only. 



From a review of all the material, we believe the following 

 tentative conclusions are justified: 



1 . The lacrimal gland may be the seat of a marked pathologi- 

 cal change, either degenerative or inflammatory in nature. 



2. Such changes are much more marked in xerophthalmic 

 than in normal rats. 



3. Variations in the size, form, and staining properties of the 

 cells are frequently seen and are probably referable to functional 

 disturbances related to the ophthalmia. 



1 This investigation was made in cooperation with Drs. Thomas B. Osborne and 

 Lafayette B. Mendel, under whose direction the feeding of the experimental animals 

 was conducted. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and the Carnegie 

 Institution of Washington shared the expenses of the research. 



