This study was performed to identify the effect of synovium graft on conjunctiva in rabbits after dry eye induction. Six New Zealand White rabbits were used as dry eye models. Both eyes were divided to two groups as control and synovium graft group. The synovium graft was performed in fourth week after dry eye modeling. Quantitative change of tears through Schirmer tear test (STT), qualitative change of tear film through tear film break up time (TFBUT), and damage of cornea through fluorescein staining were observed for 10 weeks at intervals of two weeks. Histological examination was performed to evaluate cornea and conjunctiva at tenth week. In both groups, STT and TFBUT were significantly decreased in 4 weeks after modeling compared to 0 weeks (p < 0.05) . After synovium graft, there were increases in STT value at 4 weeks and TFBUT at 4 and 6 weeks in graft group (p < 0.05). Corneal fluorescein staining showed no significant difference between the two groups. In histopathological examination, grafted synovium was detected as round to ovoid ingression folds, well attached to grafted regions with 0.11 ± 0.04 mm2 (range, 0.05- 0.16 mm2). These results indicated that the synovium graft on the conjunctiva had an effect on the qualitative and quantitative improvement of the tear film even though there was no histological change.

The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of β-glucan originating from Aureobasidium on full-thickness skin wound healing in diabetic C57BL/KsJ-db/db mouse models. In the diabetic C57BL/KsJ-db/db model, test articles were topically applied twice a day for 20 days starting from 1 day after wounding. The results were compared to that of MadecassolTM ointment (madecassol; 1% Centella asiatica extracts) topically applied at a concentration of 100 mg/kg. Treatment with β-glucan resulted in significant (p<0.01 or p<0.05) and dose-dependent decreases in wound size compared with that of vehicle control showing increased wound size (WS, %). In addition, 50% contraction time (CT50) was dramatically and dose-dependently reduced, and inflammatory cells in granulation tissues of the wound area were significantly (p<0.01 or p<0.05) and dose-dependently reduced compared with that of vehicle control showing increased numbers of micro-vessels and fibroblasts as well as re-epithelialization. In the madecassol group, similar changes in inflammatory cells and fibroblasts with re-epithelialization were also observed, but madecassol did not influence angiogenesis. No meaningful changes in body weight were detected in all tested groups compared with the vehicle control. Therefore, these data suggest that β-glucan has a beneficial effect on diabetic delayed skin wound healing and may be useful to manage incurable skin wounds in diabetic animals.