title: Combinatorial treatments enhance recovery following facial nerve crush.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of various combinatorial treatments, consisting of a tapering dose of prednisone (P), a brief period of nerve electrical stimulation (ES), and systemic testosterone propionate (TP) on improving functional recovery following an intratemporal facial nerve crush injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, controlled animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  After a right intratemporal facial nerve crush, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following eight treatment groups: 1) no treatment, 2) P only, 3) ES only, 4) ES + P, 5) TP only, 6) TP + P, 7) ES + TP, and 8) ES + TP + P. For each group n = 4-8. Recovery of the eyeblink reflex and vibrissae orientation and movement were assessed. Changes in peak amplitude and latency of evoked response, in response to facial nerve stimulation, was also recorded weekly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : Brief ES of the proximal nerve stump most effectively accelerated the initiation of functional recovery. Also, ES or TP treatments enhanced recovery of some functional parameters more than P treatment. When administered alone, none of the three treatments improved recovery of complete facial function. Only the combinatorial treatment of ES + TP, regardless of the presence of P, accelerated complete functional recovery and return of normal motor nerve conduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that a combinatorial treatment strategy of using brief ES and TP together promises to be an effective therapeutic intervention for promoting regeneration following facial nerve injury. Administration of P neither augments nor hinders recovery.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Program, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Nijee
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Carl W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: Sam J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Marzo
authors.forename: Kathryn J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Foecking
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D018373:Peripheral Nervous System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function; D043343:Testosterone Propionate / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D018373:Peripheral Nervous System Agents; D011241:Prednisone; D043343:Testosterone Propionate