Distraction　osteogenesis　(DO)　is　widely　used　in　deformities　and　defects　of　the　craniofacial　bone.　Accelerating　inferior　alveolar　nerve　(IAN)　recovery　would　aid　the　process.　Nerve　growth　factor　(NGF)　plays　a　vital　role　in　peripheral　nerve　regeneration.　In　this　study,　the　ability　of　locally　applied　human　NGF　beta　(hNGF　beta)　to　enhance　the　morphological　recovery　of　the　IAN　in　a　rabbit　model　of　mandibular　DO　was　studied.　Rabbits　underwent　bilateral　DO　with　a　rate　of　0.5　mm　per　12　h.　Two　doses　of　40　mu　g　hNGF　beta　in　buffer　were　injected　into　callus　at　the　beginning　the　of　consolidation　time.　The　contralateral　side　received　injections　of　placebo.　Rabbits　were　killed　at　14　and　28　days.　IAN　specimens　were　subjected　to　histological　and　histomorphometric　analysis.　In　both　14　and　28　days　consolidation　experiments,　nerve　histological　analysis　showed　less　degeneration　and　more　regeneration　in　nerve　fibers　on　the　hNGF　beta　treated　side　than　the　control　side.　Histomorphometric　analysis　showed　that　the　myelinated　fiber　density　on　the　hNGF　beta　treated　side　was　significantly　higher　than　on　the　control　side　(p　＜　0.01).　The　data　indicate　that　locally　applied　hNGF　beta　can　accelerate　the　morphological　recovery　of　the　IAN　and　may　play　a　role　in　reducing　nerve　injury　in　mandibular　DO　clinically.