title: Mandibular branch of the facial nerve in wistar rats: new experimental model to assess facial nerve regeneration.
abstract: Introduction The ideal animal model for nerve regeneration studies is the object of controversy, because all models described by the literature have advantages and disadvantages. Objective To describe the histologic and functional patterns of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve of Wistar rats to create a new experimental model of facial nerve regeneration. Methods Forty-two male rats were submitted to a nerve conduction test of the mandibular branch to obtain the compound muscle action potential. Twelve of these rats had the mandibular branch surgically removed and submitted to histologic analysis (number, partial density, and axonal diameter) of the proximal and distal segments. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the functional and histologic variables studied. Conclusion These new histologic and functional standards of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve of rats establish an objective, easy, and greatly reproducible model for future facial nerve regeneration studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bento
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salomone
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Bona do
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Jose Rodriguez
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ciro Ferreira da
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heloisa Juliana Zabeu Rossi
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Costa
keywords: electromyography; facial nerve; histologic analysis; nerve regeneration