Performing Injection into Palpebral Portion of the Superior Lacrimal Gland: A Technique for Inducing Dry Eye Disease in Rabbit Model

Abstract

Source: Honkanen, R. A., et al. A Rabbit Model of Aqueous-Deficient Dry Eye Disease Induced by Concanavalin A Injection into the Lacrimal Glands: Application to Drug Efficacy Studies. J. Vis. Exp. (2020).

In this video, we show a procedure to induce aqueous-deficient dry eye disease in a rabbit model by injecting the palpebral portion of the superior lacrimal gland with Concanavalin A. This model is useful for pharmacokinetic and biodistribution assays of drugs for treating dry eye disease.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

1. Animals and housing

1. Acquire New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits weighing 2-3 kg.
2. House the rabbits singly in cages with strict temperature (65 ± 5 °F) and humidity (45 ± 5%) control. Lighting should have a 12 h on/off cycle.
3. Provide unlimited access to water and standard rabbit chow. Eliminate dietary enrichments as they may contain vitamin A that affects the eye.
4. Acclimate the animals for at least 2 weeks prior to baseline measures or inducti....

Results

Figure 1: Gas mask sedation. This photograph shows the gas mask providing brief moderate sedation with isoflurane.

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
27 gauge needles (5/8)	Becton Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ	305921	Needles for injecting ConA into the lacrimal glands
Aceproinj (acepromazine)	Henry Schein Animal Health, Dublin, OH	NDC11695-0079-8	0.1ml/kg subcutaneously injection for rabbit sedation
Anesthesia vaporizer	VetEquip, Pleasanton, CA	Item #911103
Bishop Harmon Forceps	Bausch and Lomb (Storz), Bridgewater, NJ	E1500-C	Tissue forceps
Concanavalin A	Sigma, St. Louis, MO	C2010	Make 5mg/ml in PBS for injection into rabbit lacrimal glands
fluorescein	AKRON, Lake Forest, IL	NDC17478-253	Dilute to 0.2% with PBS to measure TBUT
Isoflurane	Henry Schein, Melville, NY	29405
lidocaine	Sigma, St. Louis, MO	L5647	1% in PBS for anesthesia agent
PBS (phosphate buffered saline)	Mediatech, Inc. Manassas, VA	21-031-CV
Rabbit, New Zealand White or Dutch Belted (as described in text)	Charles River Labs, Waltham, MA	2-3 kg	Research animals
Surgical Loupes +1.50	Designs for Vision, Bohemia, NY	Specialty item	Provide magnificantion of ocular surface while observing tear break up and performing Concanavalin A injections.