Objective: To explore the effect of exogenous nerve growth factor(NGF) in the regeneration of adult white rabbits inferior alveolar nerve within the silicone tubes.
Methods: In 24 adults white rabbits. A bilateral 8 mm inferior alveolar nerve gaps were created, and the proximal and distal stumps were inserted into a 12 mm silicone tube. The silicone tube of the right side was filled with exogenous NGF(experimental group) and the contralateral side was filled with saline (control group). Regeneration of the nerves was assessed by histological exam and nerve electrophysiological appreciation. Total number of the regenerating myelinated nerve fibers, the conduction velocities of nerves the thickness of myelin sheaths and the cross section area of myelinated nerve fibers between the experimental and the control groups were compared.
Results: The results showed that: 1. The experimental groups demonstrated more myelinated nerve fibers than that of the controls in 12 and 18 weeks. 2. At the same time following surgery, the myelin sheath thickness and the cross section area of myelinated nerves in the experimental groups were significantly greater than that in the controls. 3. In 12 and 18 weeks, the conduction velocities of regenerating nerves in the experimental groups were faster than that of the controls.
Conclusion: This study suggested that exogenous NGF can enhance regeneration of inferior alveolar nerve with necovery of its sensory function.