Thyroid Hormone and Thyrotropin Modulation of Lacrimal Aciner Cells in Primary Culture

The lacrimal gland may be altered in Graves'ophthalmopathy, as suggested by the presence of dry eyes, altered tear protein and immuno-globulin, and lymphocytic proliferation within the gland. In order to test the hypothesis that lacrimal acinar cells respond directly to humoral factors that are altered in Graves' hyperthyroidism, we maintained rabbit lacrimal acinar cells in primary culture in the presence and absence of T3 (0.1 mM) and TSH (2.5 mM/ml). Cells were isolated from 2 kg male white rabbits with modification of the method of Hann et al and aintained in a supplemented DMEM/Ham's F-12 medium.