Investigation of the effects of 3 different drugs withneuroregenerative effects on inferior alveolar nerve injury in rats

Nerve injuries formed during oral and maxillofacial surgical operations occur usually by crush or tension-type damage rather than incision or rupture. Such nerve injuries can be treated by providing regeneration with pharmacological agents without surgical intervention. For this purpose, many pharmacological agents have been experimentally tested and successful results have been reported. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the effects of dexamethasone, B vitamin complex and NGF on peripheral nerve regeneration with local administration on the inferior alveolar nerve. Twenty-four Wistar Albino rats weighing 220-250 g were used in the study. Experimental animals were divided into 4 groups. In all animals, the bilateral inferior alveolar nerves were exposed and damaged with crush-type injury by using a mosquito forceps for 60 seconds. According to the groups, 6 animals were treated with saline, 6 animals with dexamethasone, 6 animals with vitamin B complex and 6 animals with NGF. After the postoperative period, all animals were sacrificed on the 21st day for microscopic examination and biopsy specimens were resected from the nerves. The integrity and irregularities of myelin sheaths and vacuole formation were evaluated in a light microscope. As a result, it was observed that dexamethasone, B vitamin complex, and NGF have positive effects on regeneration, however, NGF provided a more significant regeneration than other agents.