Mandibular Branch of the Facial Nerve in Wistar Rats: New Experimental Model to Assess Facial Nerve Regeneration

Introduction  The ideal animal model for nerve regeneration studies is the object of controversy, because all models described by the literature have advantages and disadvantages. Objective  To describe the histologic and functional patterns of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve of Wistar rats to create a new experimental model of facial nerve regeneration. Methods  Forty-two male rats were submitted to a nerve conduction test of the mandibular branch to obtain the compound muscle action potential. Twelve of these rats had the mandibular branch surgically removed and submitted to histologic analysis (number, partial density, and axonal diameter) of the proximal and distal segments. Results  There was no statistically significant difference in the functional and histologic variables studied. Conclusion  These new histologic and functional standards of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve of rats establish an objective, easy, and greatly reproducible model for future facial nerve regeneration studies.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bento,Ricardo Ferreira, Salomone,Raquel, Nascimento,Silvia Bona do, Ferreira,Ricardo Jose Rodriguez, Silva,Ciro Ferreira da, Costa,Heloisa Juliana Zabeu Rossi
Format: Digital revista
Language:Portuguese
Published: Fundação Otorrinolaringologia 2014
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1809-48642014000300277
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Introduction  The ideal animal model for nerve regeneration studies is the object of controversy, because all models described by the literature have advantages and disadvantages. Objective  To describe the histologic and functional patterns of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve of Wistar rats to create a new experimental model of facial nerve regeneration. Methods  Forty-two male rats were submitted to a nerve conduction test of the mandibular branch to obtain the compound muscle action potential. Twelve of these rats had the mandibular branch surgically removed and submitted to histologic analysis (number, partial density, and axonal diameter) of the proximal and distal segments. Results  There was no statistically significant difference in the functional and histologic variables studied. Conclusion  These new histologic and functional standards of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve of rats establish an objective, easy, and greatly reproducible model for future facial nerve regeneration studies.