Myogenin expression in facial muscle following damage to the facial nerve.

CONCLUSION

Gene analysis of facial muscle may be a promising way to detect denervation of facial muscle, helping to determine the prognosis of a facial palsy early in its progression.

OBJECTIVES

In the treatment of intratemporal facial palsy, early diagnosis of neural damage is important in deciding about therapeutic modalities. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the severity of facial palsy and the level of myogenin expressed in the facial muscle.

METHODS

The animals were divided into two groups, depending on whether the facial nerve was resected or compressed. Expression of myogenin mRNA was examined using real-time PCR and in situ hybridization of the facial muscle following the nerve damage.

RESULTS

Increased expression of myogenin was observed in the nerve resection group, while no such increase was seen in the nerve compression group. In situ hybridization indicated that myogenin was expressed exclusively in satellite cells around the denervated muscle fibers.