Interstitial fluid pressure in the facial nerve: relationship between facial nerve pressure and cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

The possibility of measuring interstitial pressure in the facial nerve using a servo-nulling system was investigated. As a pilot study, interstitial fluid pressure in the extirpated medulla oblongata was measured using this system, and was found to be proportional to the pressure applied to the surrounding tissue block. Interstitial fluid pressure of the facial nerve in guinea pigs was also measurable with this system. The pressure in the facial nerve fluctuated with respiration and/or heart beat, as did CSF pressure. Respiratory fluctuations in facial nerve and CSF pressures ceased when the respirator was stopped. Facial nerve pressure appeared to be closely related to CSF pressure; the injection of saline into the CSF space resulted in an increase in facial nerve pressure. Measurement of facial nerve pressure by a servo-nulling system should be useful in evaluating the pathogenesis underlying facial palsy.