title: Effects of ozone therapy on facial nerve regeneration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ozone may promote moderate oxidative stress, which increases antioxidant endogenous systems. There are a number of antioxidants that have been investigated therapeutically for improving peripheral nerve regeneration. However, no previous studies have reported the effect of ozone therapy on facial nerve regeneration.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate the effect of ozone therapy on facial nerve regeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into two groups with experimental nerve crush injuries: a control group, which received saline treatment post-crush, and an experimental group, which received ozone treatment. All animals underwent surgery in which the left facial nerve was exposed and crushed. Treatment with saline or ozone began on the day of the nerve crush. Left facial nerve stimulation thresholds were measured before crush, immediately after crush, and after 30 days. After measuring nerve stimulation thresholds at 30 days post-injury, the crushed facial nerve was excised. All specimens were studied using light and electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-crushing, the ozone-treated group had lower stimulation thresholds than the saline group. Although this did not achieve statistical significance, it is indicative of greater functional improvement in the ozone group. Significant differences were found in vascular congestion, macrovacuolization, and myelin thickness between the ozone and control groups. Significant differences were also found in axonal degeneration and myelin ultrastructure between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that ozone therapy exerted beneficial effect on the regeneration of crushed facial nerves in rats.
authors.affiliation: Dumlupinar University, Department of Otolaryngology, Kutahya, Turkey. Electronic address: isaozbay@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ozbay
authors.affiliation: Dumlupinar University, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Kutahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ital
authors.affiliation: Dumlupinar University, Department of Otolaryngology, Kutahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cuneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kucur
authors.affiliation: Dumlupinar University, Department of Physiology, Kutahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Raziye
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akcılar
authors.affiliation: Dumlupinar University, Department of Pathology, Kutahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysenur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deger
authors.affiliation: Mersin University, Department of Histology and Embryology, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.affiliation: Dumlupinar University, Department of Otolaryngology, Kutahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oghan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D010126:Ozone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010126:Ozone
keywords: Facial nerve; Nervo facial; Ozone; Ozônio; Regeneration; Regeneração