Effects of Gonadal Steroids and Electrical Stimulation on Cell Survival following Intracranial Facial Nerve Injury

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to assess 1) the degree of motoneuron cell loss and 2) the combinatorial effects of electrical stimulation (ES) and testosterone propionate (TP) on cell survival following an intracranial facial nerve crush injury and 3) to compare these results to distal injuries.Methods:Study Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: intracranial sham surgery or intracranial crush injury with or without ES and TP treatments. The intracranial sham group underwent exposure of the meatal segment of the right facial nerve. The intracranial crush groups underwent a crush of the meatal segment following exposure with or without ES and TP treatment immediately following the injury and were followed for 8 weeks. Brain sections were thionin-stained, and facial motoneurons were counted using light microscopy. Results were compared to intratemporal and extracranial facial nerve crush injuries.Results:Intracranial c...