Evaluation of the regeneration of chemically extracted acellular facial nerve allograft for the whole facial nerve defect in rat with multiple retrograde tracing / 中国矫形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

[Objective]To evaluate the axonal transport function of the regenerate nerve of buccal branch,marginal mandibular branch and cervical branch after chemically extracted acellular facial nerve allograft to the whole facial nerve defect in rat using fluoro-gold(FG),quantum dot(QD) and fast blue(FB).[Method]The extracranial section of facial nerve and branches were dissected under light microscope,and 10-mm-long segments of facial nerve gap were made on the left side.The defect was repaired by acellular facial nerve allografts with epineural suture method.Two months later,fluoro-gold(FG),quantum dot(QD) and fast blue(FB) were injected into distal bridged side of buccal branch,marginal mandibular branch and cervical branch.After three days,the slices of brain stem were collected and the facial motoneuron was observed under fluorescences microscope.[Result]There were three kinds of different fluorescences in the frozen sections of the facial nerve originated from the brainstem nuclei under the fluorescence microscope.Fluoro-gold(FG),quantum dot(QD) and fast blue(FB) labeled neurons were shown yellow,red and blue colors,respectively.[Conclusion]According to estimation of axonal branching by triple retrograde labeling,it was found that the regenerate facial nerve repaired the gap,and nerve continuity obtained restoration.The evaluation method of this study is simple,reliable and easy.It is an ideal evaluation method.