[Experimental studies on rabbit facial nerve regeneration in chitin tubes containing nerve growth factor].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the nerve regeneration after implantation of chitin tubes containing nerve growth factor(NGF) in the rabbit facial nerve.


METHODS
Bilateral 8 mm defect of superior buccal divisions of the facial nerves were made in 16 New Zealand rabbits. Chitin tubes containing NGF were implanted into the gaps, and autologous nerves were implanted into the right gaps as control. The nerve regeneration was evaluated with electrophysiological and ultrastructural examination after 8 and 16 weeks of operation.


RESULTS
Chitin tubes containing NGF successfully induced the nerve regeneration, regularly arranged myelinated and unmyelinated axons could be observed across the 8 mm gaps, and the myelin sheath was thick with clear lamellar structure at 8 weeks after operation, The regenerated nerve fibers increased and were more mature at 16 weeks after operation. There were no significant difference in electrical impulse conduction velocity through the neural regeneration between the experimental and control sides (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Chitin tubes containing NGF can provide optimal conditions for regeneration of rabbit facial nerve.
Zhang
S L
SL
Department of Stomatology, Nanjing General Hospital of PLA, Nanjing Jiangsu, P. R. China 210002.
Meng
Z Y
ZY
Ma
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002686:Chitin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D016067:Nerve Transfer; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits
D002686:Chitin; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor