Age-dependent alterations in mouse exorbital lacrimal gland structure, innervation and secretory response

Several studies investigated the effect of aging on rat and human lacrimal gland physiology. However, in most of these studies, only two age groups were investigated. Furthermore, those studies did not correlate the age-related histological changes that occur in the lacrimal gland to the functional changes (nerve activity and protein secretion) that might occur with aging. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of aging on lacrimal gland structure, innervation and function using BALB/c mice at different ages. Exorbital lacrimal glands were removed from 3, 8, 12, 24, and 32-month-old, male BALB/c mice, fixed, embedded and processed for histology and immunohistochemistry. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to determine morphological changes and lymphocytic infiltration; giemsa to identify mast cells; and Kinyoun's carbol fucsin solution to indicate lipofuscin-like inclusions. Parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves were identified by immunofluorescence techniques. To measure acetylcholine release and protein secretion, lacrimal gland pieces were incubated in Krebs Ringer buffer containing 5 mm KCl (control), 75 mm KCl (depolarizing buffer which activates nerves), carbachol (a cholinergic agonist, 10−4 m), or phenylephrine (an α1-adrenergic agonist, 10−4 m) for 20 min. The media were collected and analysed for acetylcholine and peroxidase using a spectrofluorometric assay. KCl-, carbachol- and phenylephrine-stimulated peroxidase secretion decreased in lacrimal glands from 8, 12, and 24-month-old mice when compared to 3-month-old animals. Both the density and distribution of parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves surrounding the acini decreased with increasing age. Acetylcholine release from lacrimal gland nerves decreased in 24-month-old mice compared to 3- and 12-month-old animals. Similarly, progressive morphological changes, including increased numbers of lipofuscin-like inclusions, mast cells and lymphocytic infiltration occurred in an age-dependent manner. We conclude that structural alterations of mouse lacrimal gland, including increased accumulation of lipofuscin-like inclusions, chronic inflammation and functional alterations including decreased acetylcholine release and protein secretion occurred with aging.