Table 1.
Estimation of vibrissae function recovery. Vibrissae performance in unoperated rats (Group 1: Intact), in rats after transection of the right facial nerve followed by entubulation with collagen only (Group 2: Collagen), with collagen plus neonatal Schwann cells (Group 3: Collagen + naive SCs), or with collagen plus genetically modified SCs (Groups 4 and 5). In groups 6–9 entubulations were followed by manual mechanical stimulation (MS) of the vibrissal muscles.
| Group of animals | Frequency (in Hz) | Angle at maximal protraction (in degrees) | Amplitude (in degrees) | Angular velocity during protraction (in degrees/sec) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) Intact SD rats | 6.0 ± 0.9 | 60 ± 15 | 47 ± 18 | 635 ± 395 |
| (2) Collagen only | 5.4 ± 1.2 | 93 ± 16* | 15 ± 9* | 213 ± 44* |
| (3) Collagen + neonatal, naive SCs | 6.0 ± 0.7 | 90 ± 8* | 16 ± 9* | 140 ± 90* |
| (4) Collagen + SC-FGF-218kD | 6.0 ± 0.5 | 91 ± 8* | 19 ± 4* | 238 ± 164* |
| (5) Collagen + SC-FGF-221/23kD | 6.0 ± 0.6 | 96 ± 10* | 11 ± 4* | 109 ± 62* |
| (6) Collagen only + MS | 5.8 ± 1.6 | 93 ± 19* | 20 ± 8* | 295 ± 78* |
| (7) Collagen + neonatal, naive SCs + MS | 7.4 ± 1.3 | 97 ± 18* | 16 ± 9* | 238 ± 54* |
| (8) Collagen + SC-FGF-218kD + MS | 6.4 ± 0.9 | 96 ± 12* | 15 ± 8* | 240 ± 96* |
| (9) Collagen + SC-FGF-221/23kD + MS | 6.2 ± 0.6 | 96 ± 16* | 19 ± 7* | 307 ± 98* |
*Significant differences of group mean values (ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey's test, P < .05) from intact rats.