Experimental Study of the Fungiform Papilla and Taste Bud Regeneration Following Microsurgical Repair of Lingual Nerve in Rat

Abstract

目的:了解舌神經損傷后味蕾的變化,以及切斷的舌神經用神經外膜吻合修復后舌菌狀乳頭和味蕾的再生能力。方法:模擬臨床將SD大鼠一側舌神經鉗夾或切斷損傷,即刻用神經外膜吻合的方法修復切斷的舌神經,分別于術后20d和100d時用體視顯微鏡、組織顯微鏡、掃描電鏡觀察鼠舌菌狀乳頭和味蕾的形態和數目。結果:術后20d時,無論鉗夾損傷或切斷舌神經,切斷的舌神經無論是否用神經吻合修復,舌神經損傷側的菌狀乳頭和味蕾均萎縮、退化,數目明顯減少;術后100d時,舌神經鉗夾損傷和舌神經切斷后即刻吻合修復的動物,退化、萎縮的菌狀乳頭和味蕾已完全再生,形態和數目恢復正常。而舌神經切斷后未吻合的動物,萎縮、退化的菌狀乳頭和味蕾無明顯再生恢復。結論:鉗夾損傷舌神經,萎縮、退化的菌狀乳頭和味蕾可以自行再生恢復;切斷舌神經,萎縮、退化的菌狀乳頭和味蕾不能自行再生恢復;用神經外膜吻合修復后,萎縮、退化的菌狀乳頭和味蕾可以再生恢復。舌菌狀乳頭和味蕾形態、數目的再生恢復,可以作為舌神經修復成功的客觀指標。 PURPOSE: To investigate the changes of taste buds following injury to lingual nerve and the regeneration of the fungiform papillae and taste buds following microsurgical epineurial anastomosis of transecting injured lingual nerves in rats.METHODS: We observed the numbers and shapes of the fungiform papillae and taste buds with stereomicroscope, light microscope, and scanning electron microscope at 20 and 100 days after the clamp injury to lingual nerve, or the transecting injury to lingual nerve with / without immediate microsurgical epineurial anastomosis of the injured lingual nerve in rats. RESULTS: The fungiform papillae and taste buds degenerated, atrophied and their numbers diminished obviously at 20 days following either the clamp injury or transecting injury to the lingual nerve. The fungiform papillae and taste buds didn’t regenerate spontaneously at 100 days following transection of the lingual nerve without microsurgery. The degenerated fungiform papillae and taste buds regenerated and recovered completely at 100 days following both clamp injury to the lingual nerve and transection of the lingual nerve with immediate microsurgical epineurial anastomosis. CONCLUSION: The degenerated fungiform papillae and taste buds have good ability to regenerate spontaneously following clamp injury to the lingual nerve; the degenerated fungiform papillae and taste buds can regenerate completely with immediate microsurgical epineurial anastomosis of the transected lingual nerve. The quantity and morphology of fungiform papillae and taste buds can be used as objective indicators in the function rehabilitation of injured lingual nerve.