[Experimental study on facial nerve regeneration by porous silk fibroin conduit].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of using polyporus silk fibroin as a kind of novel material for facial nerve regeneration.


METHODS
The porous silk fibroin conduit was used in the reconstruction of a 5 mm facial nerve gap of SD rat. Chitosan conduit was taken as control group. General observation, electrophysiological study, histological study and image analysis were performed 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks postoperatively.


RESULTS
The facial nerve of SD rat regenerated successfully as time passed through. Mean CAP percentage of regenerated nerve in SF conduit was 24.94% +/- 5.73% 8 weeks postoperatively, which had no statistical significance with that of chitosan conduit group (P = 1.125). And the average number of myelinated myelinated nerve fibers in SF conduit was 62. 5 +/- 6. 3, which had statistical significance with that in chitosan conduit group (P = 0.016).


CONCLUSIONS
The porous silk fibroin conduit could effectively repair facial nerve defect and improve peripheral nerve functional recovery.
Lu
Yan
Y
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai 200040, China.
Chi
Fang-lu
FL
Zhao
Xia
X
Shao
Zhen-zhong
ZZ
Cao
Zheng-bing
ZB
D000818:Animals; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005349:Fibroins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008422:Materials Testing; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014945:Wound Healing
D005349:Fibroins