Alternative Hypothesis: Low power light irradiation, a type of
phototherapy, promotes the rate of regeneration of crushed rat facial nerve, and increases neuronal survival in the Facial Motor Nucleus.
Null Hypothesis: Low power light irradiation does not increase
crushed facial nerve regeneration rate, and does not increase neuronal survival in the Facial Motor Nucleus. Setting Up the Experiment 35 Sprague-Dawley female rats used (weighing 250-300g each)
Control Group: Rats with crushed facial nerve but not irradiated.
Experimental Group: Rats with crushed facial nerve, irradiated using
Low Power Light Irradiation (a type of Phototherapy). The Procedure
Peripheral Facial Nerve Crushed (injury caused by
compression) using invasive (surgical) procedures.
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration using Low Power Laser
Irradiation (wavelength of 632.8 nM, for 90 minutes)
Invasive Procedure, using Horseradish Peroxidase as an
Indicator, labelling the neurons to use as an assay for neuron regeneration