[Effects on fiber regeneration following facial nerve transection treated with NOS antagonist].
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the role of nitric oxide synthase antagonist, N-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME) in the regeneration of facial nerve following facial nerve transection.


METHODS
The facial nerves of 40 guinea pigs were exposed and a segment of the nerve at 3 mm length were excided. The two ends of the transected nerve were sutured and enveloped in a silicone tubule to form a regeneration chamber. L-NAME and saline were respectively injected into the regeneration chambers just after transection. The experiments were observed quantificational by the means of axon and myelin staining under light microscope.


RESULTS
The findings in the work indicate that inhibition of NOS with L-NAME substantially better myelinated facial nerve regeneration than that associated with administration of saline.


CONCLUSIONS
L-NAME improve the regeneration of myelinated fibers. The mechanism seems to be related to the blockade of NO's neurotoxicity.
Feng
Y H
YH
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Renji Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200001.
Zhou
L
L
Zhao
J Y
JY
Huang
F
F
Mu
S
S
D000818:Animals; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester