GA-AL-AS LASER IRRADIATION INHIBITS NEURONAL-ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITHINFLAMMATION

A Ga-Al-As diode system that produces low-energy red light (830 nm, 40 mW) has been used for the treatment of many kinds of pain. The mechan ism of action of this new laser irradiation for analgesia was studied in anesthetized rats. The effect of laser irradiation of the saphenous nerve was studied by recording neuronal activity at the L4 dorsal roo t filaments after the injection of a chemical irritant, turpentine. La ser irradiation inhibited both the asynchronous firing by that was ind uced by turpentine and increased part of the slow components of the ac tion potentials. Thus, the laser irradiation selectively inhibited noc iceptive signals at peripheral nerves.