An inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury is a common clinical problem that can affect a patients’ quality of life. Cellular therapy has been proposed as a promising treatment for this injury. However, the current experimental models for IAN injury require surgery to create bone windows that expose the nerve, and these models do not accurately mimic human IAN injuries. Therefore, in this study, a novel experimental model for IAN injury has been established in rats. Using this model, the effects of Schwann cells and their role in the recovery from IAN injuries were investigated. Schwann cells were isolated from rat sciatic nerves and cultured. The first molar in the mandible was extracted and the IAN was immediately injured for 30 min by inserting an insect pin. Then, the Schwann cells or culture medium were transplanted into the extracted sockets of the cell and injury groups, respectively. After the surgery, the cell group displayed significantly increased sensory reflexes in response to mechanical stimulation, regenerated IAN width, and myelin basic protein-positive myelin sheaths when compared with the injury group. In conclusion, a novel animal experimental model for IAN injury has been developed that does not require the creation of a bone window to evaluate the impacts of cell transplantation and demonstrates that Schwann cell transplantation facilitates the regeneration of injured IANs.

下牙槽神经（IAN）损伤是一个常见的临床问题，可能会影响患者的生活质量。已经提出细胞疗法作为该损伤的有前途的疗法。但是，当前针对IAN损伤的实验模型需要进行手术以创建暴露神经的骨窗，并且这些模型不能准确地模拟人IAN损伤。因此，在这项研究中，在大鼠中建立了一种新型的IAN损伤实验模型。使用该模型，研究了雪旺氏细胞的作用及其在IAN损伤恢复中的作用。从大鼠坐骨神经分离雪旺细胞并进行培养。取出下颌骨中的第一颗臼齿，并通过插入昆虫针将IAN立刻受伤30分钟。然后，将雪旺氏细胞或培养基分别移植到提取的细胞和损伤组的窝中。手术后，与损伤组相比，该细胞组显示出对机械刺激，再生的IAN宽度和髓鞘碱性蛋白阳性髓鞘鞘反应明显的感觉反射。总之，已经开发了一种新型的IAN损伤动物实验模型，该模型不需要创建骨窗来评估细胞移植的影响，并证明了Schwann细胞移植促进了受伤IAN的再生。与损伤组相比髓鞘碱性蛋白阳性髓鞘。总之，已经开发了一种新型的IAN损伤动物实验模型，该模型不需要创建骨窗来评估细胞移植的影响，并证明了Schwann细胞移植促进了受伤IAN的再生。与损伤组相比髓鞘碱性蛋白阳性髓鞘。总之，已经开发了一种新型的IAN损伤动物实验模型，该模型不需要创建骨窗来评估细胞移植的影响，并证明了Schwann细胞移植促进了受伤IAN的再生。