Neuroprotective effects of vitamin E on adult rat motor neurones following facial nerve avulsion.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrates the neuroprotective effect of vitamin E after peripheral facial nerve injury. Antioxidants may have therapeutic potential in traumatic facial nerve dysfunction resulting from traumatic temporal bone injury and ear surgery.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the possible neuroprotective effect of vitamin E on the facial motor nucleus (FMN) motor neurones after peripheral nerve avulsion.


METHODS
In 36 adult rats, the right facial nerve was avulsed from the stylomastoid foramen. Following nerve avulsion, immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the effects of vitamin E on 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) activity. FMN motor neurones and glial cells were counted bilaterally in sections stained with cresyl violet.


RESULTS
Rats administered vitamin E exhibited clear suppression of injury-induced neuronal HNE expression in the ipsilateral FMN as compared to non-treated controls. Following nerve avulsion, the number of surviving motor neurones in the ipsilateral FMN was significantly greater among vitamin E-treated rats than non-treated controls.
Hoshida
Shigeru
S
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Neuroscience, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
Hatano
Miyako
M
Furukawa
Mitsuru
M
Ito
Makoto
M
D000447:Aldehydes / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000447:Aldehydes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; C027576:4-hydroxy-2-nonenal