The effects of tetanus toxin on the orbicularis oculi muscle

Tetanus toxin can cause localized neuromuscular weakness, but it also can produce systemic tetany. The action of tetanus toxin on the orbicularis muscle has not been studied in animals immunized to prevent systemic tetany. Our objective was to determine whether tetanus toxin could be used to treat orbicularis oculi muscle spasms.

We analyzed the clinical, electrophysiologic, and histopathologic effects of tetanus toxin injected into the orbicularis oculi muscle of rabbits with passive immunity to tetanus toxin. In six rabbits, the orbicularis oculi function in both eyes was assessed clinically, and the baseline orbicularis oculi muscle action potential was measured physiologically with electromyography (EMG). The rabbits then were immunized against tetanus toxin with tetanus immunoglobulin for immediate and definitive immunity. Tetanus toxin was injected into the left orbicularis oculi muscles, leaving the right eyes as controls. Ten days later, the rabbits were again assessed by clinical examination and with EMGs on both the injected side and the noninjected side. The animals were killed at 14 days, and the orbicularis muscle was removed from both sides. The injected and control tissues were examined microscopically for signs of neuromuscular denervation.

All six rabbits showed weakness in eye closure on the side injected with tetanus toxin. In addition, four rabbits developed complete ear ptosis on the tetanus toxin injected side because of spread of the toxin to adjacent ear muscles. EMGs showed both a denervation of the orbicularis oculi muscle and a poor blink potential on the side injected with tetanus toxin. Histopathologic studies of the orbicularis oculi muscle injected with tetanus toxin showed angulation of both slow and fast types of muscle fibers compatible with neuromuscular denervation.

Tetanus toxin can cause localized orbicularis oculi weakness, as documented clinically, physiologically, and microscopically, without producing systemic tetany in immunized rabbits. Tetanus toxin may have a potential application in the treatment of blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm.