IMPACT OF FETAL BRAIN TISSUE DERIVED MESENCHYMAL STEM CELL and FIBRIN GLUE ON FACIAL NERVE CRASH INJURY.

BACKGROUND/AIM To evaluate the clinical and histopathological effects of fetal brain tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells(FBTMSC) and fibrin glue(FG) on the facial nerve(FN) regeneration in rats with traumatic FN injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS 28 Sprague Dawley rats were included in the study and divided into 4 groups. Traumatic FN injury(FP) was created by a surgical clamp compression to the main trunk of left FN in all groups. In the control group(Group 1) no treatment was applied, in Group 2(FBTMSC group)2x106FBTMSC was injected, in Group 3(FG group) only FG was applied, in group 4(FBTMSC & FG group) both FBTMSC and FG was applied to the injured section of the nerve. The FN functions were evaluated clinically, immediately after the procedure and at 3rd-5th-8th weeks postoperatively. The FNs of all subjects were excised after the 8th week; then the rats were sacrificed. The presence of stem cells in the injured zone was assessed by using BrdU, and apoptosis was determined by TUNEL method. RESULTS After the damage, total FP was observed in all subjects. Statistically significant functional improvement was observed in Group 4 compared to all other groups(p<0.005). TUNEL positive cell count was statistically significantly higher in the control group than the other groups(p<0.001). TUNEL positive cell count was statistically significantly lower in Group 4 than the other groups. The proportion of BrdU-stained cells in Group 4(5%) was higher than Group 2(2%). CONCLUSION Clinically and histopathologically FBTMSC applied with FG may play a promising role as a regenerative treatment in posttraumatic FP.