Induction of Nitric Oxide and Its Role in Facial Nerve Regeneration According to the Method of Facial Nerve Injury

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important molecule in cell communication that also plays an important role in many biological processes. Given the dual role of NO in nerve degeneration and regeneration after facial nerve injury, we sought to delve deeper into its role through a systematic literature review. A comprehensive review of the literature employing SCOPUS, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases was conducted to evaluate the induction and role of NO in neurodegeneration and regeneration after facial nerve injury. From the 20 papers ultimately reviewed, the central findings were that neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) increased or decreased depending on the method of facial nerve damage, damaged area, harvested area, and animal age, and were correlated with degeneration and regeneration of the facial nerve. Research conducted on rats and mice demonstrated that NO, nNOS, eNOS, and iNOS play significant roles in nerve regeneration and degeneration. However, the relationship between nerve damage and NO could not be defined by a simple causal relationship. Instead, the involvement of NOS depends on the type of nerve cell, source of NO, timing, and location of expression, age of the target animal, and proximity of the damage location to the brainstem. Consequently, nNOS, eNOS, and iNOS expression levels and functions may vary significantly.