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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Transplantation of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells to Evaluate Functional Recovery after Peripheral Nerve Injury
Published on: February 24, 2014
Experimental study on facial nerve regeneration with or without geniculate ganglionectomy
1Department of Otolaryngology, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200031, People's Republic of China. daichf@online.sh.cn
Objective:
To investigate regeneration of the distal facial nerve following nerve grafting within the tympanic segment with geniculate ganglion preservation or dissection.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial.
Subjects:
Twenty-three adult New Zealand albino rabbits were used in this study.
Interventions:
A 2-mm tympanic segment of the facial nerve was removed, and the greater auricular nerve was harvested for grafting in all animals. In group 1 (10 rabbits), the geniculate ganglion was preserved. In group 2 (13 rabbits), the geniculate ganglion was dissected. Mastoidal and extratemporal segments of the facial nerve were harvested 3 months postoperatively for histological examination by electron microscopy.
Results:
The number of myelinated axons in normal facial nerves was 1819.6 +/- 535.6. In group 1, the number of myelinated axons was 123.6 +/- 31.1, and, compared with normal facial nerves, the diameter of the regenerative axons was decreased and the sheath thickness in the regenerative fiber was diminished. In group 2, the number of myelinated axons was 515.1 +/- 103.1, while the myelin sheath thickness was proportionate to axon diameter. (Data are given as mean +/- SD.)
Conclusion:
Geniculate ganglionectomy may improve motor axon regeneration.
