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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Transplantation of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells to Evaluate Functional Recovery after Peripheral Nerve Injury
Published on: February 23, 2014
[Ciliary neurotrophic factor in the regeneration of facial nerve]
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200040.
Objective:
To study the role of CNTF in regeneration of facial nerve.
Method:
SD Rat facial nerves in temporal bones were transected and then combined end to end. In ciliary neurotrophic factor group (n = 30), lesions were covered by gelatin sponge soaked with CNTF. In control group (n = 18), lesions were covered by gelatin sponge soaked with normal saline. 2, 4, 12 weeks after the operation, both CNTF group and SAL group undergone electrophysiology test and histopathology as well as quantity analysis.
Result:
Two weeks later, both CNTF and SAL group failed in eliciting muscular excitement by stimulating facial nerve; T-test showed significant difference between the two groups(P < 0.05) about the average of myelinated axons 4 weeks later, the latency of facial muscular excitement was 7.650 +/- 2.702 ms in CNTF group and 16.080 +/- 0.162 ms in SAL group. The average number of myelinated axons was 1614 +/- 411 in experimental group and 1094 +/- 343 in control group. T-test showed significant difference between them (P < 0.05). 12 weeks later, latency of facial muscle excitement was 2.016 +/- 0.122 ms in CNTF group and 2.060 +/- 0.162 ms in SAL group. The average number of myelinated axons was 1909 +/- 332 in experimental group and 1847 +/- 422 in control group. T-test showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
CNTF enhance facial nerve regeneration in adult SD rats.
