title: Effect of locally administered ciliary neurotrophic factor on the survival of transected and repaired adult sheep facial nerve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to determine whether the administration of Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF) at the site of repaired facial nerve enhances regeneration in the adult sheep model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten adult sheep were divided into 2 groups: control and study group (CNTF group). In the CNTF group, the buccal branch of the facial nerve was transected and then repaired by epineural sutures. CNTF was injected over the left depressor labii maxillaris muscle in the vicinity of the transected and repaired nerve for 28 days under local anesthesia. In the CNTF group, the sheep were again anesthetized after nine months and the site of facial nerve repair was exposed. Detailed electrophysiological, tension experiments and morphometric studies were carried out and then analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The skin CV min, refractory period, Jitter and tension parameters were marginally raised in the CNTF group than the control but the difference was statistically insignificant between the two groups. Morphometric indices also did not show any significant changes in the CNTF group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CNTF has no profound effect on neuronal regeneration of adult sheep animal model.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  CNTF; Neurtrophic factors; Sheep; Facial nerve; Regeneration.
authors.affiliation: ENT Division, Surgery Department, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 38, Al Khod 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al Abri
authors.affiliation: ENT Division, Surgery Department, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 38, Al Khod 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Arif Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kolethekkat
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Myles
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Glasby