title: [Experimental study on facial nerve regeneration by porous silk fibroin conduit].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai 200040, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Fang-lu
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhen-zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Zheng-bing
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005349:Fibroins