To begin, prepare a stock solution of pilocarpine using sterile water. Next, cut Schirmer's test strips to five millimeters in length. Then prepare 250 microliters of sterile water with a protease inhibitor.
Weigh each mouse individually to calculate the appropriate dosage of treatments. To stimulate tear production, using a six millimeter insulin syringe, administer 30 milligrams per kilogram of pilocarpine intraperitoneally. For tears collection, place the end of each Schirmer strip fragment over the center of the lower eyelid with a pair of tweezers.
Keep it in place until the tear reaches the strip limit, then replace the strip. Then place the Schirmer strip fragments in sterile tubes on ice to avoid degradation of components.
