Abstract
Background The intricacies of nerve regeneration following injury have prompted increased research
efforts in recent years, with a primary focus on elucidating regeneration mechanisms
and exploring various surgical techniques. While many experimental animals have been
used for these investigations, the rat continues to remain the most widely used model
due to its cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and resilience against diseases and
surgical/anesthetic complications. A comprehensive evaluation of all the experimental
rat models available in this context is currently lacking.
Methods We summarize rat models of cranial nerves while furnishing descriptions of the intricacies
of achieving optimal exposure.
Results This review article provides an examination of the technical exposure, potential
applications, and the advantages and disadvantages inherent to each cranial nerve
model.
Conclusion Specifically in the context of cranial nerve injury, numerous studies have utilized
different surgical techniques to expose and investigate the cranial nerves in the
rat.
Keywords
nerve injury model - cranial nerves - rat model
