Performing Injection into Orbital Lobe of 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).

This video describes the procedure to induce dry eye disease in a rabbit model through an injection of Concanavalin A into the orbital lobe of the superior lacrimal gland. The developed model is useful to study the effectiveness of various 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. Animal preparation

NOTE: The portions of the orbital lacrimal gland system are injected.

1. Sedate the rabbits with acepromazine 0.2 mg/kg subcutaneously.
2. Shear off the fur in the periorbital and scalp area and completely remove any residual fur using Nair. Leave the skin entirely smooth for better visualization of the anatomical hallmarks and US-guided injection of concanavalin A (Figure 1).
3. Induce modera....

Results

Figure 1: Preparation of rabbit for concanavalin A injections. (A) Small shears are used to remove fur, allowing easier visualization of landmarks to identify the orbital superior lacrimal gland. (B) Nair is used to remove h.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
100 mm macro lens	Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM	3554B002
26 gauge needles (5/8)	Becton Dickinson and Company,<br/> Franklin Lakes, NJ	305115	Needles for injecting ConA into the<br/> lacrimal glands
27 gauge needles (5/8)	Becton Dickinson and Company,<br/> Franklin Lakes, NJ	305921	Needles for injecting ConA into the<br/> lacrimal glands
Aceproinj (acepromazine)	Henry Schein Animal Health,<br/> Dublin, OH	NDC11695-0079-8	0.1ml/kg subcutaneously injection<br/> for rabbit sedation
Anesthesia vaporizer	VetEquip, Pleasanton, CA	Item #911103
Bishop Harmon Forceps	Bausch and Lomb (Storz),<br/> Bridgewater, NJ	E1500-C	Tissue forceps
Caliper	Bausch and Lomb (Storz),<br/> Bridgewater, NJ	E-2404	Caliper used to measure length of<br/> needle during ConA injection
Concanavalin A	Sigma, St. Louis, MO	C2010	Make 5mg/ml in PBS for injection<br/> into rabbit lacrimal glands
Rabbit, New Zealand White or<br/> 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<br/> surface while observing tear break<br/> up and performing Concanavalin A<br/> injections.