Differential Vulnerability of Large and Small Mammalian Myelinated Fibers to Glucose Lack

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The excitability of A fibers of peripheral nerves in vitro is more susceptible to depression by energy lack than is excitability of C fibers. Whether there is also a differential vulnerability between small myelinated A delta fibers that conduct fast pain and large myelinated A beta fibers is unclear. We evaluated the relative abilities of A beta and A delta fibers to withstand energy lack in rabbit vagus nerve by measuring the amplitudes and latencies of the compound action potentials during incubation in glucose-free Ringer's-bicarbonate solution. We also evaluated the reversibility of the effects after returning the nerves to glucose containing solution. We found that A delta fibers are more susceptible to such energy lack and recover from it less completely than A beta fibers.