Motor fiber organization in the extratemporal trunk of the facial nerve in rats: A retrograde Fluoro-Gold study

  • Authors:
    • Lijie Chen
    • Min Hu
    • Lihai Zhang
    • Sanxia Liu
    • Jinchao Luo
    • Tianzheng Deng
    • Ye Tao
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 7, 2012     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2012.701
  • Pages: 844-848
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Understanding the microanatomy of the facial nerve is vital to functional restoration of facial nerve injury. This study aimed to locate the spatial orientation of five branches in the extratemporal trunk of the rat facial nerve (ETFN). Fifteen adult Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided randomly into five groups corresponding to the five facial nerves. Fluoro-Gold™ (FG) was applied to one branch in all three rats in each group. The trunk of the facial nerve was cut at three points for fluorescence detection. Staining results showed that each branch of the facial motor nerve had a topographical orientation in the distal part of the ETFN. The temporal branch was located in the medial and acroscopic quadrant of the nerve trunk. The zygomatic branch was located in the lateral and acroscopic quadrant. The buccal branch occupied the upper half of the nerve trunk, whereas the mandibular branch occupied the lower half. The cervical branch presented a square-shaped distribution in the lateral nerve trunk. In the middle part of the ETFN, the topographical orientation remained clear, but the FG-labeled zone was extended to some extent. In the stylomastoid foramen region, all branches diffused, thereby blurring the orientation. In conclusion, each branch of the facial motor nerve had a topographical orientation and distribution in the crotch and middle part of the ETFN, but the branches diffused near the stylomastoid foramen.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

November 2012
Volume 4 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Chen L, Hu M, Zhang L, Liu S, Luo J, Deng T and Tao Y: Motor fiber organization in the extratemporal trunk of the facial nerve in rats: A retrograde Fluoro-Gold study. Exp Ther Med 4: 844-848, 2012
APA
Chen, L., Hu, M., Zhang, L., Liu, S., Luo, J., Deng, T., & Tao, Y. (2012). Motor fiber organization in the extratemporal trunk of the facial nerve in rats: A retrograde Fluoro-Gold study. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 4, 844-848. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2012.701
MLA
Chen, L., Hu, M., Zhang, L., Liu, S., Luo, J., Deng, T., Tao, Y."Motor fiber organization in the extratemporal trunk of the facial nerve in rats: A retrograde Fluoro-Gold study". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 4.5 (2012): 844-848.
Chicago
Chen, L., Hu, M., Zhang, L., Liu, S., Luo, J., Deng, T., Tao, Y."Motor fiber organization in the extratemporal trunk of the facial nerve in rats: A retrograde Fluoro-Gold study". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 4, no. 5 (2012): 844-848. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2012.701