[The experimental study of facial nerve regeneration through E-PTFE tube with nervous homogenates]

To investigate the effect of using e-PTFE containing nervous homogenates to repair the rabbit facial nerve defect.

Thirty-six adult New-Zealand rabbits weighing 2000-2500 g were randomly selected. The right sides were selected as e-PTFE containing nervous homogenates group, 8 mm defect of facial never were made, then the defect was bridged with e-PTFE tube, and the nervous homogenates were implanted into the e-PTFE tube. The left sides were selected as e-PTFE group, 8 mm defect of facial never were made, the proximal and distal stumps were simply bridged with e-PTFE tube. Regeneration of the nerve was assessed by gross observation, nerve electrophysiological test and optical microscope observation.

The electrophysiological examination showed that in the e-PTFE group, there was no muscular contraction; while in the homogenates group, the electric stimulus could get through the nerve defect at 4th week. The nerve conduction velocity of the homogenates group recovered better than that of the e-PTFE group at 8th, 12th week. Optical microscope observation showed that at 4th week, in the e-PTFE group, the proximal and distal nerve stumps denervated widely;while in the homogenates group, all the proximal nerve stumps regenerated through the chamber and reached the distal end. At 8th week, in the e-PTFE group, the regenerating nerve fiber got through the nerve defect, the nerve fibers were sparse and arranged in disorder throughout the tube.In the homogenates group, the tube was filled with regenerating nerve fibers which arranged in order. At 12th week, in the e-PTFE group, the nerve fibers lined up in orders, but there existed the phenomena that the nerve fibers were confused. In the homogenates group, regenerating nerve fibers were mature.

From this experiment, we found that the effect of e-PTFE containing nervous homogenates to repair the facial never was better than that of e-PTFE group.