title: Neurolytic effects of ampicillin on the rat infraorbital nerve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the histomorphological changes of the infraorbital nerve of rats treated with ampicillin.
  
  
  METHODS
  The infraorbital nerve was approached through the infraorbital foramen, and 0.01 ml of ampicillin dissolved in distilled water was injected taking care not to damage the nerve. Saline solution was used in control animals. Nerves were dissected and after routine histology processing analysed by light microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cross-section of the nerve treated with ampicillin showed damaged axons with disintegration of heavily myelinated fibres, while thinly myelinated fibres remain unaffected. In the saline group, no damage was observed. The signs of regeneration of the damaged infraorbital nerves were detected on the fourth post-operative week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ampicillin can cause peripheral nerve damage when injected perineurally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland. nikola.saulacic@insel.ch
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saulacic
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stojcev-Stajcic
authors.forename: Tateyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iizuka
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stajcic
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009915:Orbit / Q000294:innervation*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000667:Ampicillin