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.