Manual stimulation of the suprahyoid-sublingual region diminishes polynnervation of the motor endplates and improves recovery of function after hypoglossal nerve injury in rats.

Background: Using the rat facial nerve axotomy model, the authors recently showed that manual stimulation of denervated whiskerpad muscles reduced the posttransectional polyinnervation at the neuromuscular junctions and promoted full recovery of vibrissal whisking.

Objective: Prompted by implications for rehabilitation therapy, the authors examined whether manual stimulation of denervated supra- and infrahyoid muscles would also improve recovery after unilateral lesion on the hypoglossal nerve.

Methods: Adult rats underwent transection of the right hypoglossal nerve.