Macroscopic Characteristics of Lacrimal Glands in Select Laboratory Research Animals

PURPOSE: The lacrimal gland (LG) has recently become a target for dry eye disease (DED) treatments, making its macroscopic anatomical characteristics in laboratory animals important to further preclinical research. METHODS: LGs were collected from rats (n = 12), rabbits (n = 9), dogs (n = 9), mini swine (n = 12), and non-human primates (n = 20) enrolled in pre-clinical toxicology and pharmacokinetic studies. Each animal was screened for ocular health and had their LGs collected for anatomical measurements. The isolated LGs were measured for their width, length, and weight. RESULTS: Cynomolgus monkeys had the widest LGs (11.7 ± 0.41 mm), while New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits had the longest LGs (20.2 ± 0.09 mm). Beagle dogs had the heaviest LGs (337.9 ± 89.5 mg), and rats had the lightest intraorbital lacrimal glands (13.5 ± 1.9 mg). CONCLUSIONS: The information provided in this manuscript describing macroscopic anatomical features of LGs in animals commonly used in preclinical research offers an important tool when developing novel treatments for DED.