RESUMO
Functional recovery is provided by some neurotrophic factors released from the near vicinity of the injury site. Ultrasound treatment is known to increase neurotrophic factor expression. This study was aimed at determining the effect of ultrasound treatment on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), its receptors and new vessel formation after facial nerve injury. Sixty-four Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (group 1), sham (group 2), facial-facial coaptation (group 3), and facial-facial coaptation and ultrasound treatment (group 4). Animals in each group were evaluated on the 14th and 28th days. Immunohistochemical staining and electrophysiological and gene-level evaluations were performed for the expression of VEGF and its receptors. When the results were evaluated, it was determined that VEGF, VEGFR1 (VEGF receptor 1), VEGFR2 (VEGF receptor 2) and CD31 levels were significantly higher in groups 3 and 4 compared with the control and sham groups. The increase in these values was more prominent after 28 d of ultrasound treatment than all groups. Electrophysiological results revealed similar evident functional improvement in group 4 with decreased latency and increased amplitudes compared with group 3. Our findings suggest that ultrasound treatment might promote injured facial nerve regeneration by stimulating release of VEGF and its receptors and may result in functional improvement.