Tear film showed a higher level of estradiol, testosterone and cortisol compared with the serum level in healthy non-exercising subjects

Abstract

The most frequently used body fluid for diagnosis is the blood, but a search for a viable alternative is a noble idea. Tear fluid is suggested, but a robust research will be required to validate its suitability as a replacement. Tear samples were collected from 40 male and 40 female apparently healthy volunteers evenly distributed according to sex and age. All participants fulfilled the inclusive criteria. Blood samples were collected after 12 hours into plane bottles while tear films were collected into sterile bottles after stimulation with 70% alcohol. Both blood and tears samples were centrifuged and the supernatant collected for hormonal analysis. Testosterone and estradiol were assayed from male and female samples respectively, while cortisol was assayed from all samples using ELISA assay kits. After analysis, the mean age of participants was as follows; male; 21.57 ± 0.44, female; 21.13 ± 0.40 years. There was a significant increase in the level of estradiol, testosterone and cortisol in tears samples collected from both male and female subject compared with the corresponding serum level. The results highlighted the possible potential of using tears as alternative source of body fluid samples for hormonal analysis.