Effects of biotype nerve conduit on bridging rabbit facial nerve defects
AIM: To evaluate the effect of biotype nerve conduit on bridging rabbit facial nerve defects. METHODS: Forty-eight healthy adult New-Zealand rabbits were divided into 2 groups: Auto-personal nerve group ( A) and nerve conduit group ( B ). Each group was then subdivided into 3 groups,with 8 rabbits in each one. After operation,rabbits' behaviors including whiskers movement and lips sucking were observed. Nerve electrophysio-logical examination and histology study were performed on 4th,8th and 16th week postoperatively. RESULTS: After operation,facial paralysis was observed in the injured side of rabbits in each group and slight atrophy was seen at 2nd week. At 8th week,whiskers movement and lips sucking improved in both group A and group B,and at 16th week,whiskers movement and lips sucking almost recovered in both groups. The score of whiskers motor function in group A was higher than that in group B and the difference was statistically significant at 10th,12th and 14th week (P < 0. 05). At 8th week,gross anatomy showed that nerve conduit in group B was partly absorbed with a little conglutination,but at 16th week most of it was absorbed and new nerve fibers appeared. Significant difference was found in the mean nerve conduction velocity between group B and group A at 16th week ( P < 0. 05). The histology study showed that the rabbit facial nerve regenerated with the passage of time. The regenerated nerve in group B was gradually mature,but not as good as that in group A. The number of myelinated fibers in group A and group B increased gradually as time went on,but the number in group A was higher than that in group B at 8th and 16th week(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The biotype nerve conduit may effectively repair rabbit facial nerve defect in a short distance,which may guide and promote nerve regeneration.
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NSTL
万方数据
维普
