Adenoviral vector mediated in vivo gene transfer of BDNF promote functional recovery after facial nerve crush injury

ABSTRACT

Objectives Despite considerable advances in technique, experience and skill, the precise place of surgery in the treatment of facial nerve injury remains uncertain. We designed a facial nerve crush injury model in rats and evaluated the recovery of crushed nerve which is the most common injury type of facial nerve using adenovirus vector mediated in vivo gene transfer of Brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF). Materials and methods In 48 Sprague Dawley rats, we made a facial nerve crush injury model to main trunk before the furcation, and injected a 1011pfu adenoviral BDNF in experimental group(BDNF adenoviral injection group; ad-BDNF) and 3microliter saline in control group(Saline injection group; saline). After a period of regeneration from 10 to 40 days, nerve regeneration was evaluated with functioinal test (vibrissae and ocular movement), electrophysiologic study(threshold, peak voltage, conduction velocity) and histomorphometric study of axon density. Results Vibrissae and ocular movement, threshold and conduction velocity improved as time elapse in both group, however axon density was increased significantly only in experimental group. Functional test in 10 days and 20 days showed no difference between experimental group and control group. Vibrissae movement, threshold, conduction velocity and axon density in 30 days revealed that the regeneration in quality of experimental group was significantly superior to that of control group. Conclusion In general, there is tendency for nerve regeneration in experimental group (BDNF-adenovirus injection group) during 40 days, functional recovery was detected successfully after facial nerve crush in 30 days postoperatively.