Blind rats from the SD/RCS strain recover whisking after facial nerve injury.
We studied the expression of BDNF, FGF2 IGF1, IGF2 and NGF in denervated muscles.
We compared the amounts to those obtained in sighted rats (no functional recovery).
In the blind rats we found an early increase in FGF2 and a concomitant decrease in NGF.
FGF2-increase and NGF-decrease prevent the distal branching of regenerating axons.
This in turn reduces poly-innervation of NMJ and promotes functional recovery.