OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to observe the expression of ciliary neurotrophic factors (CNTFs) in the facial motor neurons in rats during facial nerve regeneration.

METHODSThe expression amount of CNTFs in eight groups was determined with immunohistochemical staining and image analysis.

RESULTSThe expression of CNTFs increased during the process of nerve regeneration, and reached the maximum one-week and one-month after nerve injury respectively. After one month, the intensity of CNTFs reduced gradually. The expression of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) did not show distinct difference comparing with the control, but beta transforming growth factors (TGF-beta) benefited the expression of CNTFs during nerve regeneration.

CONCLUSIONThe endogenous CNTFs promotes the axon outgrow during regeneration, and TGF-beta promotes the expression of CNTFs to rescue motoneuron during facial nerve regeneration.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; metabolism ; Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Facial Nerve ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Facial Nerve Injuries ; physiopathology ; Male ; Motor Neurons ; metabolism ; Nerve Regeneration ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism