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  • Title: Nerve growth factor reduces apoptotic cell death in rat facial motor neurons after facial nerve injury.
    Author: Hui L, Yuan J, Ren Z, Jiang X.
    Journal: Neurosciences (Riyadh); 2015 Jan; 20(1):65-8. PubMed ID: 25630785.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on motor neurons after induction of a facial nerve lesion, and to compare the effects of different routes of NGF injection on motor neuron survival. METHODS: This study was carried out in the Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, China Medical University, Liaoning, China from October 2012 to March 2013. Male Wistar rats (n = 65) were randomly assigned into 4 groups: A) healthy controls; B) facial nerve lesion model + normal saline injection; C) facial nerve lesion model + NGF injection through the stylomastoid foramen; D) facial nerve lesion model + intraperitoneal injection of NGF. Apoptotic cell death was detected using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling assay. Expression of caspase-3 and p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Injection of NGF significantly reduced cell apoptosis, and also greatly decreased caspase-3 and PUMA expression in injured motor neurons. Group C exhibited better efficacy for preventing cellular apoptosis and decreasing caspase-3 and PUMA expression compared with group D (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that injections of NGF may prevent apoptosis of motor neurons by decreasing caspase-3 and PUMA expression after facial nerve injury in rats. The NGF injected through the stylomastoid foramen demonstrated better protective efficacy than when injected intraperitoneally.
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