Proteomic Analysis of Tear Films in Healthy Female and Male Dogs Using MALDI-TOF (Matrix Assisted Laser Desortion/Ionization Time-of-Flight) Mass Spectrometry.

This study investigates sex-related differences in the tear film proteomes of healthy male and female dogs using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Tear samples from 22 dogs (11 males, 11 females) were analyzed using 2D electrophoresis, revealing 446 protein spots, with 8 showing statistically significant differential expression. Seven proteins, including TIMP-2, PFK, and Annexin A13, were upregulated in females, while IL-33 was higher in males. These differences indicate potential hormonal influences on tear film composition. The results highlight molecular variations that may be relevant to ocular physiology and could contribute to identifying non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. This study provides baseline data for future research on sex-related differences in tear film composition in dogs.