{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,6]],"date-time":"2026-10-06T13:19:34Z","timestamp":1791292774443,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,10]],"date-time":"2023-05-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1683676800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Microsurgery"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>The average nerve graft length utilized in cross\u2010face nerve grafting for reconstruction of facial nerve palsy is 20\u201322\u2009cm. While the graft length is thought to be one of the greatest determinants of muscle strength, the mechanism through which this happens remains unknown. We studied changes in axonal regeneration along the length of a 2\u2009cm cross\u2010face nerve graft in a rat model. The hypothesis was that axon count would decrease along the length of the graft.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A 2\u2009cm nerve graft (sciatic nerve) was used as a cross\u2010face nerve graft in 16 adult female, 210\u2013250\u2009g, Sprague Dawley rats. Thirteen weeks later, 5\u2009mm nerve biopsies were taken at four sites: the facial nerve trunk (control), proximal graft, midpoint of graft (1\u2009cm distal to coaptation) and distal graft (2\u2009cm distal to coaptation). Retrograde nerve labeling with FluoroGold was performed at the biopsied nerve site and the facial motor nucleus was taken 1\u2009week later. Microscopic imaging and manual counting of axons and labeled motor nuclei was performed.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Retrograde\u2010labeled motor neuron counts were decreased at the midway point of the graft compared to the facial trunk (1517\u2009\u00b1\u2009335 axons, \u0394%\u2009=\u200992.5, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u2009.01) and even further decreased at the distal end of the graft (269\u2009\u00b1\u2009293 axons, \u0394%\u2009=\u2009175.5, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u2009.006). Analysis of the nerve biopsies demonstrated no significant differences in myelinated axon count between the nerve trunk and over the length of the nerve graft (range 6207\u20137179 axons, \u0394%\u2009=\u200914.5, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u2009.07).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>In a rat model, the number of regenerating motor neurons drops off along the length of the graft and axon count is preserved due to axon sprouting. How this pattern correlates to ultimate muscle strength remains unknown, but this study provides insight into why shorter grafts may afford better outcomes.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/micr.31053","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,11]],"date-time":"2023-05-11T00:41:29Z","timestamp":1683765689000},"page":"694-701","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Drop\u2010off in axonal regeneration along the length of a cross\u2010face nerve graft: An experimental study in rats"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"43","author":[{"given":"Lindsay E.","family":"Janes","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine  Chicago Illinois USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lauren J.","family":"Kelsey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine  Chicago Illinois USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniel C.","family":"Sasson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine  Chicago Illinois USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarah","family":"Applebaum","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine  Chicago Illinois USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joanna K.","family":"Ledwon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine  Chicago Illinois USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Arun K.","family":"Gosain","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine  Chicago Illinois USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_9_2_1","first-page":"1","article-title":"Axonal branching and recovery of coordinated muscle activity after transection of the facial nerve in adult rats","volume":"180","author":"Angelov D. 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