Objective　To screen differentially expressed microRNAs during the repair of facial nerve crush injury (3 d, 14

d) by high-throughput RNA sequencing technology, and to verify the expression of microRNAs of interest. Methods　The rat

model of facial nerve crush injury was established, and the process of nerve repair was evaluated by facial appearance observation and histological staining. Three samples were collected at 3 and 14 days after compression respectively, and microRNA

sequencing analysis was performed. Bioinformatics method was used to screen for microRNA with significant differences, and

qPCR was used to verify the expression of the 4 microRNAs that were most significantly down-regulated and up-regulated in

nerve samples at different periods. Results　The model of facial nerve injury was successfully created by crushing the facial

nerve trunk of rats. Facial paralysis appeared immediately after the operation. The facial appearance observation and histological

staining results all indicated that the facial nerve injury was repaired to a certain extent 14 days after the operation. The RNA

sequencing results showed that a total of 96 microRNAs were significantly up-regulated and 115 microRNAs were significantly

down-regulated. Four microRNAs with the most obvious up-regulation and down-regulation were selected for qPCR validation,

and the results showed consistency between their expression and the trend of sequence detection results. Compared to 3 days

after operation, the expression of miR-200a-3p was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01) and miR-300-5p was significantly

down-regulated (P<0.05) in the specimens 14 days after operation. Conclusion　The expression of microRNA shows different

characteristics at different stages after facial nerve injury. Abnormal expression of microRNAs (such as miR-200a-3p, miR-

300-5p) may provide new targets for the treatment of facial nerve injury.

Facial nerve, 　Nerve repair, 　Nerve regeneration, 　microRNA, 　Sequencing