Manual stimulation, but not acute electrical stimulation prior to reconstructive surgery, improves functional recovery after facial nerve injury in rats

摘要: UNLABELLED The outcome of peripheral nerve injuries requiring surgical repair is poor. Recent work suggested that electrical stimulation (ES) the proximal stump to produce repeated discharges parent motoneurons for one hour could be a beneficial therapy if delivered immediately prior reconstructive surgery mixed nerves. PURPOSE We tested whether ES has positive influence on functional recovery after purely motor nerve, facial nerve. METHODS Electrical (20 Hz) was transected 1 reconstruction by end-to-end suture (facial-facial anastomosis, FFA). For manual (MS), animals received daily rhythmic stroking whisker pads. Restoration vibrissal performance following or MS evaluated using video-based motion analysis. also assessed degree collateral axonal branching at lesion site, counting motoneuronal perikarya triple retrograde labeling, and estimated quality end-plate reinnervation in target musculature. Outcomes 4 months were compared receiving sham (SS) MS. RESULTS Neither protocol reduced sprouting. did not improve failed reduce proportion polyinnervated end-plates. By contrast, restored normal whisking function polyinnervation. CONCLUSION Whereas acute repair, provides long-term benefits.