Lacrimation and salivanon is not relatedtothe cd4 positive lymphoctteinfiltration in lacrimaland salivary gland in

Purpose: We measured the secretion volume of tear and sauva in MRL and BALB/c mice to confirm that lacrimationand salivation is related to lymphocyte infiltration in these glands. Methods: To quantify the tear secretion volume. Schirmer test with cotton thread test was performed in MRL/ipr, MRL/+ and BALB/c mice. Saliva secretion volume was measured with capillary tube. Lymphocytic infiltration into the exocrine glands was graded, and infiltrated lymphocytes were characterized by immunohislochemistry. The apoptotic cells in the exocrine glands were detected by TUNEL method. Results: There were no significant differences in tear secretion between BALB/c and MRL/lpr or MRL/+ mice. In MRL/lpr the saliva secretion was reduced in the comparison with BALB/c mice. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the CD4 positive T lymphocytes were located in the focus region in both of the glands in MRL/lpr and MRL/+ mice. In the salivary gland, the CDS positive T lymphocytes were observed in the focus region and around acini and duct in MRL/lpr mice. In the salivary glands the apoptotic cells were detected at the ductal and acinar cells only in MRL/lpr mice. Conclusion: In this study, we found that the CD4 positive T lymphocyte dose not necessarily result in the decrease of the secretion. In salivary gland. CDS positive lymphocytes around acini and duct may cause the apoptosis of the acinar and ductal epithelial ceils and the dysfunction of the salivary secretion.