Outcomes of different concentrations of human amniotic fluid in a keratoconjunctivitis sicca-induced mouse model

Abstract

To compare the effects of different concentrations of topical human amniotic fluid (HAF) in a mouse model of dry eye, forty C57BL/6 mice were divided into 4 treatment groups: 20% HAF, 50% HAF, 100% HAF, and isotonic salt solution (control). Dry eye was induced by an injection of botulinum toxin B into the lacrimal gland. Tear production, ocular surface fluorescein staining, and blink rate were evaluated in each mouse at 5 time points during a 4-week period. Goblet cell density was assessed in stained histological sections. Regarding tear production, 20, 50, and 100% HAF groups were all different from the control group (P<0.001) at week 1. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the 20, 50, and 100% HAF groups. At week 2, 20, 50, and 100% HAF groups had significant improvement in staining score and were significantly different from the control group (P=0.047, P=0.005, and P=0.001, respectively). No difference in spontaneous blink rate was observed between groups, at any time point. Goblet cell density was significantly decreased in the control group compared to the HAF treatment groups. All tested concentrations of topical HAF were effective and superior than the control in this keratoconjunctivitis sicca-induced mouse model. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effects of HAF on the human ocular surface.