The α-MSH at 10−4 mg/ml significantly increased tear secretion of the dry eye rats from Day 7 to 28 (Fig. 1A, D+10−4 α-MSH vs D+NaCl, p < 0.01 for Days 7 and 14, p < 0.05 for Days 21 and 28). The gene discussed is STAMBP; the disease is dry eye syndrome.