Laser Action Spectrum of Reduced Excitability in Nerve Cells
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-12-1981
Abstract
The change in excitability of unstained nerve cells from neonatal rat cerebellum was measured as a function of the energy flux and wavelength of incident laser light. The energy flux was in the range of 0 to 100 μJ/sq. μm. 6 wavelengths between 490 and 685 nm were used. Laser pulses above a threshold energy flux significantly reduced the cells' excitability as measured by extracellular stimulation. The sensitivity of the cells, defined as the inverse of the threshold energy density, increased by an order of magnitude toward the shorter wavelengths. These results are consistent with primary absorption of the light by mitochondrial enzymes, resulting in local heating followed by mitochondrial calcium release into the cytoplasm.
Repository Citation
Olson, J. E.,
Schimmerling, W.,
& Tobias, C. A.
(1981). Laser Action Spectrum of Reduced Excitability in Nerve Cells. Brain Research, 204 (2), 436-440.
https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/emergency_medicine/283
DOI
10.1016/0006-8993(81)90604-1
