[Expression of CNTFs in facial motoneurons during facial nerve regeneration in rats and their association with TGF-beta and rhBMP-2].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to observe the expression of ciliary neurotrophic factors (CNTFs) in the facial motor neurons in rats during facial nerve regeneration.

METHODS

The expression amount of CNTFs in eight groups was determined with immunohistochemical staining and image analysis.

RESULTS

The expression of CNTFs increased during the process of nerve regeneration, and reached the maximum one-week and one-month after nerve injury respectively. After one month, the intensity of CNTFs reduced gradually. The expression of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) did not show distinct difference comparing with the control, but beta transforming growth factors (TGF-beta) benefited the expression of CNTFs during nerve regeneration.

CONCLUSION

The endogenous CNTFs promotes the axon outgrow during regeneration, and TGF-beta promotes the expression of CNTFs to rescue motoneuron during facial nerve regeneration.