Original Article

Vol. 18 No. 5 (2022): The Journal of International Advanced Otology

Expression of c-Jun and KROX-20 Following Facial Nerve Injury and Recovery in Rats

Main Article Content

In Hyeok Kim
Jae Min Lee
Jun Yang Jung
Hwa Sung Rim
Dae Woong Kang
Sang Hoon Kim
Seung Geun Yeo

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated whether recovery from facial paralysis was associated with the expression of Krox-20 and c-Jun genes that are shown to be related to facial nerve regeneration after facial nerve compression and cutting.



METHODS: The left facial nerves of 24 male Sprague–Dawley rats aged 6 weeks were subjected to crushing or cutting injury. Whisker movements of the vibrissae muscle and blink reflexes of the eyelids were measured on days 4 and 14 after facial nerve injury. The facial nerves on both sides were removed, and the expression of c-Jun and Krox-20 proteins was evaluated by Western blotting.



RESULTS: The level of expression of Krox-20 on day 4 was lower in the crushing group, especially in the cutting group than in the control group (P < .05), but there was no statistically significant difference on day 14 (P > .05). The expression of c-Jun expression was significantly higher in the crushing and cutting groups than in the control group on days 4 and 14 (P < .05).



CONCLUSION: The degree of facial paralysis was more severe and the recovery rate was lower in the cutting group than in the crushing group. The levels of expression of Krox-20 and c-Jun were associated with facial nerve regeneration after facial nerve injury.



Cite this article as: Hyeok Kim I, Min Lee J, Yang Jung J, et al. Expression of c-jun and KROX-20 following facial nerve injury and recovery in rats. J Int Adv Otol. 2022;18(5):420-425.


Article Details