Effects of Electroacupuncture on Facial Nerve Function and HSV-1 DNA Quantity in HSV-1 Induced Facial Nerve Palsy Mice.

Hongzhi Tang,Zhendong Zhong,Fanrong Liang,Jie Yang,Ying Li,Jiao Chen,Shuwei Feng,Mingxiao Yang

doi:10.1155/2014/693783

Abstract

Acupuncture is a common and effective therapeutic method to treat facial nerve palsy (FNP). However, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture on symptoms and content of HSV-1 DNA in FNP mice. Mice were randomized into four groups, an electroacupuncture treatment group, saline group, model animal group, and blank control group. Electroacupuncture was applied at Jiache (ST6) and Hegu (LI4) in electroacupuncture group once daily for 14 days, while electroacupuncture was not applied in model animal group. In electroacupuncture group, mice recovered more rapidly and HSV-1 DNA content also decreased more rapidly, compared with model animal group. We conclude that electroacupuncture is effective to alleviate symptoms and promote the reduction of HSV-1 in FNP.

Highlights

Peripheral facial nerve palsy (FNP) is an acute peripheral facial nerve disorder, usually affecting unilateral facial muscle, orifices, and related tissues
Acupuncture is an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has a history of thousands of years
Mice in the FNP model group were generally anaesthetized with intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital (50 mg/kg), and the posterior auricular branch of right facial nerve was incised by 2 mm and inoculated with 25 μL virus solution (1.7×106 plaque-forming units (PFU)) on a 2 mm × 3 mm gelatin sponge, which was placed in the notch

Summary

Introduction

Peripheral facial nerve palsy (FNP) is an acute peripheral facial nerve disorder, usually affecting unilateral facial muscle, orifices, and related tissues. An FNP patient can appear expressionless when he or she is smiling [2]. The annual incidence of FNP is estimated to be 20–25 cases per 100,000 people [3,4,5]. In the United States, the annual incidence was 25/100,000 people [2, 6] compared with 258/100,000 in China [7]. FNP may influence individuals of all age groups [4], with the peak incidence lying between 20 and 40 years of age. The etiology of FNP is controversial, but viral infection, vascular ischemia, heredity, and autoimmune inflammation have been proposed as possible underlying causes [9, 10]

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