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. 2020 Aug 29;598(21):4907–4925. doi: 10.1113/JP280090

Figure 9. Overview of lacrimal hyposecretion in male NOD mice.

Figure 9

Tear secretion induced by pilocarpine treatment occurs in at least two phases, one phase dependent on the arginase 1 expression level and the other phase affected by inflammation (the blue and yellow areas, respectively). At 4 weeks of age, tear secretion in NOD mice, both with and without dacryoadenitis, is similar to in BALB/c mice. At 6 weeks of age, both NOD mice show a decrease in tear secretion as a function of arginase 1. Inflammation of low severity might be a factor in the tear volume decrease in NOD mice with dacryoadenitis. At 10 weeks of age, both NOD mice still show a decrease in tear secretion as a function of arginase 1. In addition, lacrimal gland inflammation significantly affects the tear volume decrease in NOD mice with dacryoadenitis. Therefore, arginase 1 is a key factor for tear volume decrease in NOD mice. Moreover, lacrimal gland inflammation may worsen a decrease in tear secretion.