Accelerating functional recovery after rat facial nerve injury: Effects of gonadal steroids and electrical stimulation.

Objective: We investigated the combined effects of electrical stimulation and testosterone propionate on overall recovery time in rats with extracranial crush injuries to the facial nerve.

Study Design: Male rats underwent castration 3 to 5 days prior to right facial nerve crush injury and electrode implantation. Rats were randomly assigned to two groups: crush injury + testosterone or crush injury with electrical stimulation + testosterone.