Biomaterial Database

Chronic electrical stimulation of the facial nerve causes signs of facial nucleus hyperactivity. 1993

S Saito, and A R Møller

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213.

The proximal segment of the facial nerve in rats was stimulated electrically daily for a duration of 2-10 min. After 4-8 weeks of such stimulation, 12 of 18 rats developed abnormal muscle responses that could be demonstrated by recording the electromyographic response from lower face muscles (the mentalis muscle) while the temporal branch of the facial nerve was being stimulated electrically. This abnormal electromyographic response consists of activity that appears in the latency range 6.5-15 ms. In addition, these chronically stimulated rats developed signs of facial synkinesis on the side that had been chronically stimulated. This could be demonstrated by recording electromyographic activity when the blink reflex was being elicited by electrical stimulation of the ophthalmic nerve. Rats in which electrodes had been implanted but which had not been stimulated did not develop any abnormal electromyographic activity. The abnormal electromyographic activity that could be recorded in rats that had been stimulated chronically could not be recorded 4-8 weeks after the stimulation had been terminated. We interpret these results to indicate that chronic electrical stimulation of the facial nerve can render the facial motonucleus hyperactive, and that the signs of this hyperactivity (abnormal muscle response and synkinesis) are similar to those typically seen in patients with hemifacial spasm. We thus presume that these results support the hypothesis that it is the irritation of the facial nerve from a compressing blood vessel that causes the facial nucleus to become hyperactive in patients with hemifacial spasm.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009882	Ophthalmic Nerve	A sensory branch of the trigeminal (5th cranial) nerve. The ophthalmic nerve carries general afferents from the superficial division of the face including the eyeball, conjunctiva, upper eyelid, upper nose, nasal mucosa, and scalp.	Nerve, Ophthalmic,Nerves, Ophthalmic,Ophthalmic Nerves
D001767	Blinking	Brief closing of the eyelids by involuntary normal periodic closing, as a protective measure, or by voluntary action.	Orbicularis Oculi Reflex,Reflex, Blink,Reflex, Corneal,Reflex, Orbicularis Oculi,Winking,Blink Reflexes,Corneal Reflexes,Orbicularis Oculi Reflexes,Blink Reflex,Reflexes, Blink,Reflexes, Orbicularis Oculi
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005152	Facial Muscles	Muscles of facial expression or mimetic muscles that include the numerous muscles supplied by the facial nerve that are attached to and move the skin of the face. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Mimetic Muscles,Facial Muscle,Mimetic Muscle,Muscle, Facial,Muscle, Mimetic,Muscles, Facial,Muscles, Mimetic
D005154	Facial Nerve	The 7th cranial nerve. The facial nerve has two parts, the larger motor root which may be called the facial nerve proper, and the smaller intermediate or sensory root. Together they provide efferent innervation to the muscles of facial expression and to the lacrimal and SALIVARY GLANDS, and convey afferent information for TASTE from the anterior two-thirds of the TONGUE and for TOUCH from the EXTERNAL EAR.	Cranial Nerve VII,Marginal Mandibular Branch,Marginal Mandibular Nerve,Seventh Cranial Nerve,Nerve VII,Nerve of Wrisberg,Nervus Facialis,Nervus Intermedius,Nervus Intermedius of Wrisberg,Cranial Nerve VIIs,Cranial Nerve, Seventh,Facial Nerves,Mandibular Nerve, Marginal,Mandibular Nerves, Marginal,Marginal Mandibular Nerves,Nerve VIIs,Nerve, Facial,Nerve, Marginal Mandibular,Nerve, Seventh Cranial,Nerves, Marginal Mandibular,Nervus Faciali,Seventh Cranial Nerves,Wrisberg Nerve,Wrisberg Nervus Intermedius
D005260	Female		Females
D005830	Geniculate Ganglion	The sensory ganglion of the facial (7th cranial) nerve. The geniculate ganglion cells send central processes to the brain stem and peripheral processes to the taste buds in the anterior tongue, the soft palate, and the skin of the external auditory meatus and the mastoid process.	Large Superficial Petrosal Nerve,Superficial Petrosal Nerve,External Petrosal Nerve,Geniculate Ganglia,Greater Petrosal Nerve,Greater Superficial Petrosal Nerve,Lesser Petrosal Nerve,Nerve of the Pterygoid Canal,Vidian Nerve,External Petrosal Nerves,Ganglia, Geniculate,Ganglion, Geniculate,Greater Petrosal Nerves,Lesser Petrosal Nerves,Nerve, External Petrosal,Nerve, Greater Petrosal,Nerve, Lesser Petrosal,Nerve, Superficial Petrosal,Nerve, Vidian,Petrosal Nerve, External,Petrosal Nerve, Greater,Petrosal Nerve, Lesser,Petrosal Nerve, Superficial,Superficial Petrosal Nerves
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor