Effects Of Guan Moxibustion Therapy On Reparative Regeneration And Expression Of NGF/TrkA In Rabbits With Facial Nerve Injury

Objective:We observed the repair and regeneration of Guan moxibustion therapy in rabbits with facial nerve injury, and expression changes of nerve growth factor (NGF) and tyrosine kinase receptor A (TrkA), to explore the partial mechanism of Guan moxibustion therapy on promoting repair and regeneration, and to provide reliable experimental basis for clinical treatment of peripheral facial paralysis with Guan moxibustion therapy, thereby promoting Guan moxibustion therapy in clinical application and popularization.Method:32 healthy Japanese white rabbits, half male and female. The rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups:model group, control group, Guan moxibustion group, hyperthermia group. Model group, Guan moxibustion group and hyperthermia group prepared facila paralysis model by using special forceps hamostatic to squeeze their right buccal branches of facial nerve, control group were sutured the isolated right buccal branches of facial nerve wihtout squeezing. The Guan moxibustion group and hyperthermia group were treated by respectively adding Moxa and charcoal in Guan moxibustion device at the 5th day postoperatively,6 days for a period of treatment, a total of two period of treatment. The model group and control group were not treated. During the experiment, took attention to observe each groups'general situation, morphological and kinematic indications. After the end of treatment, all rabbits were perfused, brain tissue were picked, and then cut out tagged segment of facial nerve and facial nerve nucleus. After HE staining and Luxol fast blue staining, repair situation of injured segment of facial nerve were observed under microscope; nerve fiber number, fiber diameter, myelin sheath thickness, axon area and nerve bundle area were detected. Immunohistochemical method was used to tested the expression level of NGF and TrkA in the injured segment of facial nerve and facial nerve nucleus. All the data were statistically analyzed by statistical software PEMS 3.1.Result:1. The effect of Guan moxibustion therapy on facial paralysis of rabbits with facial nerve injury:facial paralysis have basically disappeared and was difficult to observe in the Guan moxibustion group; the model group have no significant improvement; the hyperthermia group was slightly better, but there was no significant difference compared with the model group.2. Observation of facial nerve under microscope:the facial nerve fibers of the control group were arranged in a regular pattern and have an uniform morphology. In the model group, the majority of facial nerve showed vacuole degeneration, the diameter of the nerve fibers became smaller, and the myelin sheath was thinner than normal. In the Guan moxibustion group, the minority of facial nerve showed vacuole degeneration, the diameter of the nerve fibers became slenderer, and the myelin sheath was thinner than the normal, but the degree was lower than the model group. The hyperthermia group compared with the model group have no significant difference.3. Effects of Guan moxibustion therapy on the expression of NGF and TrkA in rabbits with facial nerve injury:(1) Compared with the model group, the Guan moxibustion group increased the expression of NGF in the facial nerve and facial nerve nucleus, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); the hyperthermia group was not statistically significant (P>0.05).(2) Compared with the model group, the Guan moxibustion group increased the expression of TrkA in the facial nerve and facial nerve nucleus, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); the hyperthermia group was not statistically significant (P>0.05)..Conclusion:1. Guan moxibustion therapy promoted injury repair and regeneration of facial nerve in rabbits.2. In rabbits with facial nerve injury, Guan moxibustion therapy improved the expression of NGF and TrkA in facial nerve and facial nerve nucleus. It suggested that the effect of Guan moxibustion therapy on the repair and regeneration of facial nerve injury may be achieved by increasing the expression of NGF and TrkA in facial nerve and facial nerve nucleus.