[Establishment of animal model for ischemic facial palsy in rat].

OBJECTIVE

In order to establish animal model for ischemic facial nerve palsy in rats and to observe the intrinsic vascular network of facial nerve in the fallopian canal.

METHOD

Selective vascular embolization of the external carotid artery was performed in rats. The animals were killed at 1 and 30 days after operation respectively. 10% gelatin solution with fluorescent dye were injected into their left ventricles. The changes intrinsic vascular network were observed under inverted fluorescent microscopy.

RESULT

Facial palsy was presented within 5 to 15 min following arterial embolization, the intrinsic capillaries of facial nerve appeared to be thinner and some of them were blocked by microspheres, especially in the labyrinthine segment. Facial palsy almost recovered after 30 days postoperatively. The capillaries returned to be almost normal shape and only few of them were thinner.

CONCLUSION

The establishment of animal model for ischemic facial palsy will make contribution to experimental research and clinical treatment for facial palsy.