Thermal block of mammalian unmyelinated C fibers by local cooling to 15–25°C after a brief heating at 45°C

Abstract

Our study discovered that the temperature range for producing a partial to complete cold block of mammalian C-fiber axons can be increased from 5–15°C to 15–25°C on average after a preheating at 45°C. This discovery raises many basic scientific questions about the influence of temperature on nerve conduction and block. It also raises the possibility of developing a novel implantable nerve block device to treat many chronic diseases including chronic pain.