Investigative ophthalmology & visual science
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Jul 2018
TRPV1 and TRPM8 Channels and Nocifensive Behavior in a Rat Model for Dry Eye.
Persistent ocular surface pain occurs in moderate to severe dry eye disease (DE); however, the mechanisms that underlie this symptom remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine if the transient receptor potential vanilloid ion channels play a role in hypertonic saline (HS)-evoked corneal reflexes in a model for aqueous tear deficient DE. ⋯ These results suggest that TRPV1 plays a significant role in mediating enhanced nocifensive behavior in DE, while TRPM8 may play a lesser role. Strategies to target specific transducer molecules on corneal nerves may prove beneficial as adjunct therapies in managing ocular pain in moderate to severe cases of DE.