PMC

8-OHdG immunostaining of lacrimal glands in the control group (A) and the lactoferrin group (B). Scale bar: 50 µm.

A. TNF-α. p = 0.36, N = 7, average ± standard error of mean (SE). B. MCP-1. p = 0.06, N = 7, average ± SE. MCP-1 and TNF-α expression in the lactoferrin (LF) group tended to belower than the control (CTL) group.

A. 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). *p = 0.004, N = 5, average ± standard error of mean (SE). B. Hexanoyl-lysine adduct (HEL). p = 0.06, N = 5, average ± SE. The concentration of 8-OHdG and HEL in the lactoferrin (LF) group were lower than the control (CTL) group.

A. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). p = 0.06, N = 10, average ± standard error of mean (SE). B. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). *p = 0.01, N = 10, average ± SE. MCP-1 and TNF-α expression in the lactoferrin (LF) group were lower than the control (CTL) group.

A. Time course of the tear secretion. B. Lacrimal gland weight. C. Tear secretion corrected by lacrimal gland weight at 6 months. The volume of tear secretion was significantly larger in the lactoferrin (LF) group compared to the control (CTL) group. *p<0.01, N = 10, average ± standard error of mean).

Hematoxylin-eosin staining of control (A, C) and lactoferrin groups (B, D). CD45 immunostaining of lacrimal glands in the control group (E) and the lactoferrin group (F) Organelle morphology of control (G) and lactoferrin groups (H) examined by transmission electron microscope. Scale bar indicated 100 µm (A–F) and 2 µm (G, H).