Collateral reinnervation by the superior laryngeal nerve after recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.
This study investigates the role of the intact superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) in the reinnervation process of one of the laryngeal muscles, the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA), following recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury. Using a chronic RLN injury model in the adult rat, PCA reinnervation was assessed by retrograde double-tracing techniques in combination with electrophysiology and immunohistochemistry of muscle sections. The results demonstrate that the PCA receives dual innervation from both laryngeal nerves even in the uninjured system. Functionally significant collateral reinnervation originates from intact SLN fibers following RLN injury, mainly due to intramuscular sprouting rather than by recruitment of more motor neurons. This may be important when choosing surgical and/or medical treatment for patients with RLN injury.
Hydman
Jonas
J
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Neurosurgery R2:02, Karolinska Institute, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. jonas.hydman@ki.se
Mattsson
Per
P
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport / Q000502:physiology; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013266:Stilbamidines; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology*
C049774:2-hydroxy-4,4'-diamidinostilbene, methanesulfonate salt; D013266:Stilbamidines; D002772:Cholera Toxin