Facial Paralysis Induced By Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 In Mice And Experimental Studies Of Facial Neurons Apoptosis In The Animal Model

Bell's Palsy (BP) , accounting for 60%~75% of all cases of damage to the facial nerve, is the most frequent cranial neuropathy. Because of the absence of an identified etiology, it was also diagnosed as idiopathic peripheral facial palsy. Viral hypothesis considers the reactivation of latent herpes simples virus type 1 (HSV-1) in geniculate ganglia as the pathogenic factor of BP. The relationship between HSV-1 and BP has been supported by increased studies. We have been succeed in producing an facial paralysis animal model of HSV-1 primary infection, which clinical and histopathologic features are similar to BP, by inoculating HSV-1 into the posterior auricular branch of facial nerve in mice. So far as we know, this is a new method and better than other reported experimental methods because of the advantages of higher morbidity and lower mortality. Further we have studied the facial neuronal apoptosis of the animal model and thrown light on understanding the living state of facial neurons in BP and explaining the feature and prognosis of this disease.objective1. To study the role of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in facial paralysis by selecting the optimal method for developing experimental animal model of viral facial paralysis.2. To help understanding the living state of facial motor neurons in BP and explaining the feature and prognosis of BP by studing the apoptosis of facial...