title: The Effect of Insulin Like Growth Factor-1 on Recovery of Facial Nerve Crush Injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of locally applied insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on the recovery of facial nerve functions after crush injury in a rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups. Group 1 consisted of the rabbits with crush injury alone; group 2, the animals applied saline solution onto the crushed facial nerve and group 3, IGF-1 implemented to the nerve in the same manner. Facial nerve injury was first electrophysiologically studied on 10th and 42nd days of the procedure. The damage to the facial nerves was then investigated histopathologically, after sacrification of the animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the electrophysiological study, compound muscle action potential amplitudes of the crushed nerves in the second group were decreased. In pathological specimens of the first and second groups, the orders of axons were distorted; demyelination and proliferation of Schwann cells were observed. However, in IGF-1 treated group axonal order and myelin were preserved, and Schwann cell proliferation was close to normal (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Local application of IGF-1 in a slow releasing gel was found efficacious in the recovery of the facial nerve crush injury in rabbits. IGF-1 was considered worthy of being tried in clinical studies in facial nerve injury cases.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Asuman Feda
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Bayrak
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, Dokuz Eylul University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yuksel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Olgun
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Department, Kutahya Simav State Hospital, Kutahya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozbakan
authors.affiliation: Basic Oncology Department, Dokuz Eylul University, Institue of Oncology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Safiye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Can Ahmet
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kulan
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University, Animal Laboratory, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gonca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kamaci
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Department, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University, Animal Laboratory, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Department, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olgun
keywords: Animal Model; Facial Nerve Injuries; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Therapy