A new method for measuring the conduction velocities of Abeta-, Adelta- and C-fibers following electric and CO(2) laser stimulation in humans.

The conduction velocities of Abeta-, Adelta- and C-fibers of a peripheral nerve of the upper limb in normal subjects were measured by a combination of conventional electric stimulation, painful CO(2) laser stimulation and non-painful CO(2) laser stimulation of a tiny skin surface area, respectively. The values obtained were 69.1+/-7.4 m/s, 10.6+/-2.1 and 1.2+/-0.2 m/s, respectively. These findings demonstrated that the combined methods are useful for experimental and clinical exploration of the physiological function and pathophysiological role of Abeta-, Adelta- and C-fibers of a given peripheral nerve.