The neural pathway for lacrimal gland tear secretion in New Zealand White rabbits.

•Lacrimal gland tear secretion in rabbits is connected with the frontal cortex, the field CA1 of hippocampus, the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus, the pons, and the medulla oblongata.•The neural pathway that regulates tear secretion from the lacrimal gland proceeds from the PVN to the superior olivary complex of the pons to the SSN, and finally to the lacrimal gland.•This research provides a new idea for the study of the pathogenesis of dry eye.