Activities of autonomic neurotransmitters in meibomian gland tissues are associated with menopausal dry eye

The secretory activities of meibomian glands are regulated by the autonomic nervous system, The change in density and activity of autonomic nerves in meibomian glands during menopause play an important role in the pathogenesis of dry eye. In view of this, we established a dry eye rat model by removing the bilateral ovaries. We used neuropeptide Y and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide as markers of autonomic neurotransmitters. Our results showed that the concentration of estradiol in serum significantly decreased, the density of neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity in nerve fibers significantly increased, the density of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactivity in nerve fibers significantly decreased, and the ratio of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/neuropeptide Y positive staining significantly decreased. These results suggest that a decrease in ovary activity may lead to autonomic nervous system dysfunction, thereby affecting the secretory activity of the meibomian gland, which participates in sexual hormone imbalance-induced dry eye.

穴位刺激调控自主神经系统的区域异质性

Acupoints on the different parts of the body surface vary in regulating the autonomic nervous system(ANS),exhibiting differences in the acupoint specificity in terms of the distributing directions of sympathetic and parasympathetic branches.The paper introduces the rules of acupoints on the corresponding body surfaces in modulating ANS based on their location at four limbs,abdomen,sacrum,head and face,suboccipital and lateral cervical region and auricle(concha).The fundamental rule of acupoint heterogeneity in ANS regulation is that:all acupoints can induce somatic-sympathetic reflex.The regional heterogeneity of acupoints in ANS is shown:by the fact that stimulation beyond a certain intensity can induce systemic autonomic effects.The acupoints on the abdomen act on the sympathetic nervous system,those at concha on the vagal system and those on the sacral region on the sacral parasymathetic system.The heterogeneity of acupoints in regulating ANS refers to co-effects of acupoints specific effect(within segments) and its systemic effect(whole body),which embodies the specificity of acupoints structure.The acupoints on the same body surface regions display the homogeneity of modulation.Mastering the heterogeneous characteristics of acupoints in modulating ANS is particularly conductive to constructing the theoretical basis of acupoints in clinical acupuncture treatment for systemic diseases.