Experimental Cranial Nerve Models in the Rat.

BACKGROUND:  The intricacies of nerve regeneration following injury have prompted increased research efforts in recent years, with a primary focus on elucidating regeneration mechanisms and exploring various surgical techniques. While many experimental animals have been used for these investigations, the rat continues to remain the most widely used model due to its cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and resilience against diseases and surgical/anesthetic complications. A comprehensive evaluation of all the experimental rat models available in this context is currently lacking.

METHODS:  We summarize rat models of cranial nerves while furnishing descriptions of the intricacies of achieving optimal exposure.

RESULTS:  This review article provides an examination of the technical exposure, potential applications, and the advantages and disadvantages inherent to each cranial nerve model.

CONCLUSION:  Specifically in the context of cranial nerve injury, numerous studies have utilized different surgical techniques to expose and investigate the cranial nerves in the rat.