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¹ Laboratory of Clinical Physiopathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
² Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
³ Department of Ophthalmology, São Paulo University, Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil

(Requests for offprints should be addressed to E M Rocha, Departamento de Oftalmologia, FMRP, Universidade de São Paulo, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Email: emrocha{at}fmrp.usp.br)

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) increase with aging and induce signaling alterations that lead to inflammation and dysfunction in several tissues. Aging reduces function and insulin signaling in lacrimal glands (LGs). To evaluate whether AGE signaling and insulin secretion in LGs are altered in aging, 24- and 2-month-old male Wistar rats were compared. Immunohistochemistry with confocal microscopy was used to evaluate AGE, AGE receptor (RAGE) and nuclear factor-B (NF-B) expression in LGs. Basal tear secretion volume, insulin, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) levels in tears and LGs and peroxidase activity in LG tissue were measured. Insulin secretion from isolated LGs and pancreatic ß-cells was compared in the supernatant of aging and control rats in vitro by RIA after stimulation with 2.8–16.7 mM glucose, carbachol and KCl. AGE, RAGE and NF-B expression was higher in LGs of aging compared with young rats. Basal tear secretion and peroxidase activity were significantly lower in the aging group (P=0.016 for both assays). IL-1ß and TNF- levels were higher in tears of aging rats compared with young rats (P=0.007 and 0.05 respectively); however, even though aging rats were insulin-resistant (as confirmed by the insulin-tolerance test), the insulin levels in the tear film of aging and control rats were similar in vivo and in vitro. The higher expression of AGEs, RAGE and NF-B in LGs of aging rats is accompanied by systemic insulin resistance and may be involved in LG and tear film alterations but does not affect insulin secretion in the tear film. These observations indicate that metabolic events may be related to LG and tear film dysfunctions in aging.