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J Reconstr Microsurg 2018; 34(06): 436-445
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1636539
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Dynamic Quantitative Assessment of Motor Axon Sprouting after Direct Facial–Hypoglossal End-To-Side Neurorrhaphy in Rats

Pengfei Liu   *
1   Department of Neurosurgery, XinHua Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Zhang Zhang   *
2   Department of Neurosurgery, Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
,
Chenlong Liao
1   Department of Neurosurgery, XinHua Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Wenxiang Zhong
1   Department of Neurosurgery, XinHua Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Pengyang Li
3   Aerospace School of Clinical Medicine, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
,
Wenchuan Zhang
1   Department of Neurosurgery, XinHua Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

14 October 2017

18 January 2018

Publication Date:
01 April 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Background End-to-side (ETS) neurorrhaphy is a promising procedure for peripheral nerve repair, yet controversies regarding the efficacy of this repair in facial nerve anastomosis for facial paralysis still exist.

Materials and Methods Thirty rats were divided into three groups: intact control group, direct facial–hypoglossal ETS neurorrhaphy, and end-to-end (ETE) neurorrhaphy. Nerve regeneration was assessed with vibrissae motor performance, electrophysiological tests, retrograde labeling, and histomorphological analysis at 4 and 8 months postoperatively.

Results Both ETS and ETE neurorrhaphies resulted in axonal regeneration and functional recovery of the recipient nerve but did not reach the level of intact controls. Significantly higher numbers of myelinated axons and labeled neurons giving regenerating fibers were found in group ETE compared with group ETS at both time points, consistent with the functional and electrophysiological recovery. Group ETS showed significantly smaller fiber diameter and thinner myelin thickness than group ETE at 4 months, but the difference became nonsignificant at 8 months. ETS neurorrhaphy had a very slight effect on the donor nerve, as determined electrophysiologically and histomorphologically. Sparsely distributed double-labeled neurons and relatively large amounts of single-labeled neurons contributing to reinnervation were found through double retrograde neuronal labeling in group ETS. Further quantitative analysis of the percentage of double-labeled neurons showed a pronounced tendency to decline from 19.8% at 4 months to 6.0% at 8 months postoperatively.

Conclusion Successful reinnervation after ETS neurorrhaphy could be achieved through both collateral sprouting and terminal sprouting, with the latter seeming to be the principal origin of motor nerve sprouting.

Keywords

end-to-side neurorrhaphy - facial–hypoglossal neurorrhaphy - nerve regeneration
 

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