Basic science research for regenerative treatment of olfactory dysfunction by head injury

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The present study wad designed to investigate if replacing the cribriform plate with fascia can facilitate olfactory nerve recovery after olfactory nerve transection. Areas of injury-associated tissue were significantly smaller in the mild injury model, and at 42 days the regenerated nerves had reestablished connections to the glomerular layer of the bulb. With severe injury, there were larger areas of injury-associated tissue, more astrocytes and macrophages, and a decrease in regenerated nerve fibers. When dexamethasone (DXM) was injected after severe injury, there was a significant reduction in injury-associated tissue, better nerve recovery and fewer astrocytes and macrophages. These results demonstrate that recovery in the olfactory system varies with the severity of injury, and that DXM treatment may have therapeutic value by reducing injury-associated tissue and improving recovery outcome.