Scleral TGF-β1 and Smad3 expression is altered by TCM Bu Jing Yi Shi Tablets in guinea pigs with form-deprivation myopia

ObjectiveTo explore whether the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Bu Jing Yi Shi Tablets alters the expression of scleral TGF-β1 and Smad3 in guinea pigs with form-deprivation myopia (FDM).MethodsSixty-five guinea pigs were randomly divided into control, model, low-, medium-, and high-dose treatment groups. Except for the control group, FDM was induced by covering the right eye of each animal with opaque latex. The treatment groups were gavaged with different suspension concentrations of Bu Jing Yi Shi Tablets. Refraction and axial length were performed before and after myopia induction. At the end of the experiment, all right eyes were extracted, and scleral sections were prepared for staining and TGF-β1 and Smad3 immunohistochemistry. Scleral thickness and area, the scleral fibroblast quantity, and scleral TGF-β1 and Smad3 expressions were measured.ResultsThe 5 FDM groups had the same initial axial length and diopter, the final diopter and axial length of the model group were significantly increased compared with the control group and treatment groups (P < .01). The axial length of each treatment group decreased as the dose decreased compared with the model group (P < .01); the total scleral area (P < .05–.01) and the number of scleral fibroblasts (P < .01) in the model group were significantly lower than the treatment groups. Both the TGF-β1 and Smad3 integral optical densities in the model group were significantly lower than the control and medium- and high-dose treatment groups (P < .01). TGF-β1 and Smad3 mRNAs in the model group were decreased compared with the control group, but increased in expression after treatment.ConclusionBu Jing Yi Shi Tablets may restore the expression of scleral TGF-β1 and Smad3 in FDM guinea pigs and impede myopia development.