The possible analgesic effect of soft-laser irradiation on heat nociceptors in the cat tongue.
These effects were studied by recording single-fibre discharges in the lingual nerve. A total of 11 heat nociceptors were tested and of these 60 per cent decreased their firing frequency following soft-laser (GaA1As semiconductor laser) irradiation for 1 min; firing frequency was decreased in all the nociceptors studied following irradiation for 3 to 10 min. The reduction in firing rate was similar between 5 and 10 min after irradiation suggesting the effect reached a plateau within this time. These findings suggest that soft-laser irradiation might have an analgesic effect on tongue pain.
Mezawa
S
S
Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan.
Iwata
K
K
Naito
K
K
Kamogawa
H
H
D000200:Action Potentials; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007834:Lasers; D008036:Lingual Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014059:Tongue / Q000294:innervation*