Chul Ho Jang1, Yong Beom Cho2, Cheol Hee Choi3, Yoon Seok Jang3, Won-Kyo Jung4. 1. Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea. Electronic address: chulsavio@hanmail.net. 2. Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea. 3. Department of Bio New Drug Development, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea. 4. Department of Biomedical Enginnering, and Center for Marine-Integrated Biomedical Technology (BK21 Plus), Pukyong National University, Pusan, South Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To date, the effect of topical steroid after a crush injury to rat facial nerve has rarely been reported on. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of topical dexamethasone on recovery after a crush injury to the rat facial nerve, by functional, electrophysiological, and morphological evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the effects of topical dexamethasone on recovery after a crush injury to rat facial nerve by functional, electrophysiological and morphological evaluation. RESULTS: The functional recovery using vibrissae movement was significantly high scores in the experimental group than control group at two and three weeks post-crush. The recovery of the threshold of muscle action potential was significantly lowered in the experimental group compared to the control (p<0.05). However, there was no statistical significance in the nerve conduction velocity. The dexamethasone treatment groups showed a larger axon diameter and thicker myelin sheath than the control group. CONCLUSION: From our results, topical dexamethasone accelerates recovery of the crush-injured facial nerve.
OBJECTIVE: To date, the effect of topical steroid after a crush injury to rat facial nerve has rarely been reported on. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of topical dexamethasone on recovery after a crush injury to the rat facial nerve, by functional, electrophysiological, and morphological evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the effects of topical dexamethasone on recovery after a crush injury to rat facial nerve by functional, electrophysiological and morphological evaluation. RESULTS: The functional recovery using vibrissae movement was significantly high scores in the experimental group than control group at two and three weeks post-crush. The recovery of the threshold of muscle action potential was significantly lowered in the experimental group compared to the control (p<0.05). However, there was no statistical significance in the nerve conduction velocity. The dexamethasone treatment groups showed a larger axon diameter and thicker myelin sheath than the control group. CONCLUSION: From our results, topical dexamethasone accelerates recovery of the crush-injured facial nerve.