Abstract: Objective:To observe the regulatory effect of fructus corni on the retinol transport, and to elucidate the mechanism of fructus corni in the treatment of dry eye syndrome. Methods:A totle of 60 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, positive control group, low dose of fructus corni group, medium dose of fructus corni group, and high dose of fructus corni group. Benzalkonium chloride eye drop method was used to set up the dry eye syndrome models of the mice.The mice in positive control group were orally administered with Shihu Yeguang Pill(0.2 mL·10g^-1 body mass);the mice in low,medium,and high doses of fructus corni groups were orally administered with 600,1 200 and 2 400 g·L^-1 fructus corni water decoction,respectively(0.2 mL·10 g^-1 body mass);the mice in model group were orally administered with the same volume of normal saline;the mice in various adminstration groups were administered once a day,and lasted for four weeks. The tear secretion amount and tear film rupture time of the mice in vavious groups were detected by tear test paper method and fluoresein staining method.The levels of serum prealbumin(PA),retinol binding protein(RBP) and the retinol in liver tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by ELISA;the expression levels of cellular retinol binding protein (CRBP) and RBP receptor-stimulated by retinoic acid gene 6(STRA6) in lacrimal gland tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting methods. Results:Compared with blank control group, the tear secretion amount and the tear film rupture time of the mice in model group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with model group,the tear secretion amount and the tear film repture time of the mice in positive control group and different doses of fructus corni groups were significnatly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with blank control group, the levels of serum PA and RBP and the levels of retinol in liver of the mice in model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01); the expression levels of CRBP and STRA6 proteins in lacrimal gland tissue were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with model group, the levels of serum PA and RBP and the levels of retinol in liver tissue of the mice in positive control and different doses of fructus corni groups were significantly increased(P<0.01). Compared with positive control group, the levels of serum PA and RBP of the mice in high dose of fructus corni group were increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the expression levels of CRBP and STRA6 proteins in lacrimal gland tissue of the mice were significantly increased (P<0.01). Conclusion:When dry eye syndrome occurs,the body is accompanied by deficiency of retinol and obstacle of retinol transport.The sour drug fructus corni can improve the deficiency of retinol by increasing the absorption of retinol,and then regulate the process of retinol transport.

Key words: dry eye syndrome, retinol, fructus corni, retinol transport