Objectives: Botulinum neurotoxin (BTX) is commonly used for oromandibular-facial-lingual dystonias in oro-maxillofacial surgery. There is not enough basic ultrastructural research about BTX. It is an issue of conflict whether BTX causes degeneration in some extent durin theraphy. In this context, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of BTX when injected into peripheral nerve tissue and masseter and gluteal muscles by histologic evidence. Methods: We used 30 male, 5-6 month Spraque- Dawley rats weighing 270 ± 30 g were randomly assigned into four experimental groups, and control groups. Rats were anesthetized and the masseter and gluteal muscles were injected with a single dose of Botulinum Toxin A (BOTOX: Allergan Herbert , Irvine, Calif) in physiologic saline as 0.5 U/ 0.1 ml and 0.1 saline was injected in experimental groups in control groups respectively. Animal care was performed in accodance with Public Health Service Policy on Human Care and Use of Laborotory Animals of American Veterinery Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia, 2000. Gluteal and masseter muscles and ischiadic nerves from rats prepared for light and electronmicroscopic evaluation. Quantitative parameters such as muscle fiber thickness and qualitative assessments including sarcosomal deformation, glycogen content, intensity of connective tissue around muscle and nerve fibers, features of T tubules were evaluated by light microscope and electron microscope respectively. We paired BOTOX(+) and BOTOX(-) samples statiscically. T test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Muscle fiber diamater (µm)was significantly decreased in BOTOX (+) group. (p<0,0001). Conclusion: Hence we concluded that muscular changes, predominantly related with atrophy intstead of degeneration has been induced by BOTOX.

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