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Updated: Jan 17, 2026
Facial Nerve Surgery in the Rat Model to Study Axonal Inhibition and Regeneration
Published on: May 5, 2020
Effect of Platelet-rich Plasma and Brief Electrical Stimulation Following Facial Nerve Neurorrhaphy in a Rat Model
Janelle Sloychuk1, Jin Soo Song1, Lin Fu Zhu2
1From the Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Background:
With ongoing investigations to improve facial nerve recovery after injury, brief electrical stimulation (BES) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) application have become promising modalities. The usage of combined modalities has not yet been investigated. We aimed to evaluate differences in facial nerve regeneration between rats receiving BES (group 1) and rats receiving BES plus PRP (group 2) following transection and primary neurorrhaphy.
Methods:
This was a prospective randomized animal study of 2 groups of 6 rats that underwent facial nerve transection and repair at the main trunk of the nerve. Both groups received BES on postoperative day 0 for 1 hour using an implantable stimulation device, with group 2 additionally receiving concurrent PRP. The primary measure of whisker amplitude was recorded from 2 to 8 weeks postoperatively.
Results:
At week 2, the average whisker amplitude for groups 1 and 2 was 6.5 and 2.0 degrees, respectively. At week 4, group 1 remained unchanged at 6.1 degrees, whereas group 2 improved to 10.1 degrees. By 6 weeks, average amplitudes were 8.2 and 14.0 degrees, respectively. By week 8, measures were 9.8 and 16.7 degrees, respectively. All results were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Application of BES and PRP following neurorrhaphy in a rat model yields a greater effect than BES alone in expediting facial nerve recovery.
