title: The effect of coenzyme Q10 on the regeneration of crushed facial nerve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to show the possible positive effect of coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10) on regenerating in facial palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were randomly divided into 2 groups as Co Q10 and control groups. Group Q10 (n = 8) received Co Q10 of 10 mg/kg/d intraperitoneally for 30 days, and group C (n = 8) received saline solution of 1 mL/d intraperitoneally once daily for 30 days. The right facial nerve stimulation thresholds were determined before crush, immediately after crush, and after 1 month.After determination of the thresholds, the crushed part of the facial nerve was then excised. All specimens were examined by a pathologist using a light microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant difference in stimulation threshold was found between the Co Q10 and saline groups after crushing (P = 0.645). After 1 month of treatment, stimulation thresholds were significantly lower in both the Co Q10 and saline groups (Ps = 0.028 and 0.016). However, the Co Q10 group showed greater improvement than the saline group (P = 0.050).After 1 month of treatment, neither the Co Q10 group nor the saline group had reached the precrushing amplitude levels (Ps = 0.027 and 0.011).Significant differences were found in vascular congestion, macrovacuolization, and myelin thickness between the Co Q10 and control groups by light microscopy (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although many treatment methods have been tried to accelerate facial nerve regeneration after trauma, a definitive method has not been found yet. Co Q for the treatment of acute facial paralysis is promising on both physiologic assessments and pathologic evaluation.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of *Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and †Pathology, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Güven
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Tolgar Lütfi
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kumral
authors.forename: Güler
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berkiten
authors.forename: Ziya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Saltürk
authors.forename: Gürcan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sünnetçi
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Öztürkçü
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uyar
authors.forename: Gülçin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kamali
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10