ABSTRACT
A reliable method of exposure of the inferior alveolar nerve in Wistar rats has been
developed, to allow intraosseous repair with two microsurgical techniques under halothane
inhalational anaesthesia. The microsuturing technique involves anastomosis with 10-0
nylon sutures; a laser-weld technique uses an albumin-based solder containing indocyanine
green, plus an infrared (810 nm wavelength) diode laser. Seven animals had left inferior
alveolar nerve repairs performed with the microsuture and laser-weld techniques. Controls
were provided by unoperated nerves in the repaired cases. Histochemical analysis was
performed utilizing neuron counts and horseradish peroxidase tracer (HRP) uptake in
the mandibular division of the trigeminal ganglion, following sacrifice and staining
of frozen sections with cresyl violet and diaminobenzidene. The results of this analysis
showed similar mean neuron counts and mean HRP uptake by neurons for the unoperated
controls and both microsuture and laser-weld groups. This new technique of intraosseous
exposure of the inferior alveolar nerve in rats is described. It allows reliable and
reproducible microsurgical repairs using both microsuture and laser-weld techniques.
