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Pilot evaluation of the circadian rhythm of tear production in a population of healthy adult cats
Author(s) -
Faghihi Houman,
Rajaei Seyed Mehdi,
Ansari mood Manely,
Williams David L.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
veterinary ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.594
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1463-5224
pISSN - 1463-5216
DOI - 10.1111/vop.12673
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , cats , rhythm , medicine , population , chronobiology , physiology , environmental health
Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine if a circadian rhythm exists in Schirmer's tear test (STT‐1) values in a group of healthy adult cats. Animals studied Twenty adult neutered Domestic Short‐haired cats (DSH) were used in the study. Procedures Tear production was measured with the Schirmer tear test (STT‐1) at 12 different time points over a 48‐hour period. Results A significant difference (approximately 4.3 mm/min) was noted between STT‐1 values measured between 4 pm (lowest) and 12 am (highest) on both day 1 ( P = 0.02) and day 2 ( P = 0.01), and substantial variation in STT‐1 values was observed at different times during the 48‐hour period. Conclusions Significant variation in mean STT‐1 values demonstrates that there is a circadian rhythm in tear production in cats and thus shows the importance of taking the time of day into account when measuring STT‐1 in cats.