EXPRESSION OF NADPH-DIAPHORASE ACTIVITY IN THE FACIAL MOTONEURONS AFTER COMPRESSION OF THE FACIAL-NERVE IN THE ALBINO-RAT

Compression of the rat facial nerve in its bony canal led to increased nitric oxide synthase activity in the facial motoneurons as revealed by NADPH-d histochemistry. The increase occurred steadily from 3 days to 6 weeks, peaking at 4 weeks after compression. Parallel to this was also a gradual return of facial function which reached its maximum at 4-5 weeks after compression.