Unilateral trigeminal nerve branch lesion (V1 and V2) at the skull base and nasal capsule growth in rabbits.
The effects of long-term afferent denervation on midfacial and nasal capsule growth after craniofacial or skull base surgery are unknown. Experimental studies suggest that afferent nerves may play a role in regulating craniofacial growth through neurotrophic influences. The present study was designed to assess the effects of nasal capsule afferent (V1 and V2) denervation on nasal capsule growth in the rabbit. Eighteen 1 1/2-week-old rabbits were evenly divided into three groups: unoperated controls, sham controls, and animals with unilateral anterior ethmoid and sphenopalatine nerve lesions. The nerves were lesioned at the skull base with electrocautery through an intraorbital approach at 1 1/2 weeks of age. Lateral head radiographs and dental study models were taken at 1 1/2, 3 1/2, 6, and 12 weeks of age. By 3 1/2 weeks of age, sham controls and animals with nerve lesions exhibited significant (p < 0.05) reductions in nasal capsule area and height compared with unoperated control animals; the lesioned animals were more severely affected. However, by 6 weeks no differences were noted between the sham and lesioned groups, which were both smaller than unoperated controls through 12 weeks of age. Results suggest that acute nasal capsule growth deficits are a consequence of surgery as well as afferent denervation, with a greater deficit in the latter group, possibly through neurotrophic interruption. Such deficits may not be a permanent effect in the rabbit model.
Skedros
D G
DG
Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Mooney
M P
MP
Siegel
M I
MI
Losken
A
A
Smith
T D
TD
Janecka
I P
IP
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002508:Cephalometry; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003714:Denervation; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000502:physiology*; D009666:Nose / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000294:innervation*; D011817:Rabbits; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery