Quantitative histological analysis of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve in rats.

Purpose: To establish a model to quantitative histological analysis of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve in rats.

Methods: Eleven Wistar rats had their right and left mandibular branches of the facial nerve surgically removed and were sacrificed afterwards. Quantitative histological analysis was performed with: a) partial number of axons; b) partial area of the transversal cut of the nerve (9000 μm(2)); c) partial density. The averages of partial density were obtained. The statistical study was established by Wilcoxon test (p=0.05).

Results: In relation to density of axons, comparison between sides shows no statistically significant difference (p=0.248; p=0.533). Mean partial density of distal and proximal samples was, respectively, 0.18 ± 0.02 and 0.19 ± 0.02 axons/μm(2). Comparison between proximal and distal samples shows no statistically significant difference (p=0.859; p=0.182).

Conclusion: This study has successfully established a model to histological quantitative analysis of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve in rats.