Rats were divided into four groups—ischemia + saline, ischemia + SOD, axotomy + saline, and axotomy + SOD—and the severity of facial paralysis and degree of recovery was assessed, together with the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), c-Jun, and growth-associated protein (GAP)-43 mRNA. The gene discussed is JUN; the disease is ischemia.