↵*p<0.01 compared with group B (day 7, p=0.000; day 14, p=0.000; day 28, p=0.000; day 42, p=0.000);
↵†p<0.05 compared with group D (day 7, p=0.000; day 14, p=0.000; day 28, p=0.020; day 42, p=0.012) A - healthy controls, B - facial nerve lesion model + normal saline injection,