Abstract
Lightly touching normal skin near a site of itch can elicit itch sensation, a phenomenon known as alloknesis. To investigate the neural mechanisms of alloknesis, we have developed an animal model. Low-threshold mechanical stimulation of the skin normally does not elicit any response in naive C57/BL6 mice. Following acute intradermal (i.d.) injection of histamine in the rostral back, mechanical stimulation 7 mm from the injection site elicited discrete hindlimb scratch bouts directed toward the stimulus. This began at 10 minutes and peaked 20-40 minutes post histamine injection, declining over the next hour. Histamine itself elicited bouts of scratching not associated with the mechanical stimulus, which ceased after 30 minutes. Histamine- and touch-evoked scratching was inhibited by the μ-opiate antagonist naltrexone. Touch-evoked scratching was observed following i.d. 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine), a protease-activated receptor (PAR)-4 agonist, and an MrgprC11 agonist BAM8-22, but not chloroquine or a PAR-2 agonist. The histamine H1 receptor antagonist terfenadine prevented scratching and alloknesis evoked by histamine, but not 5-HT, a PAR-4 agonist or an MrgprC11 agonist. In mice with experimental dry skin, there was a time-dependent increase in spontaneous and touch-evoked scratching. This animal model appears to be useful to investigate neural mechanisms of itch and alloknesis.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1886-1891 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Investigative Dermatology |
| Volume | 132 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
Cite this
Mouse model of touch-evoked itch (alloknesis). / Akiyama, Tasuku; Carstens, Mirela Iodi; Ikoma, Akihiko; Cevikbas, Ferda; Steinhoff, Martin; Carstens, Earl.
In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Vol. 132, No. 7, 01.01.2012, p. 1886-1891.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Mouse model of touch-evoked itch (alloknesis)
AU - Akiyama, Tasuku
AU - Carstens, Mirela Iodi
AU - Ikoma, Akihiko
AU - Cevikbas, Ferda
AU - Steinhoff, Martin
AU - Carstens, Earl
PY - 2012/1/1
Y1 - 2012/1/1
N2 - Lightly touching normal skin near a site of itch can elicit itch sensation, a phenomenon known as alloknesis. To investigate the neural mechanisms of alloknesis, we have developed an animal model. Low-threshold mechanical stimulation of the skin normally does not elicit any response in naive C57/BL6 mice. Following acute intradermal (i.d.) injection of histamine in the rostral back, mechanical stimulation 7 mm from the injection site elicited discrete hindlimb scratch bouts directed toward the stimulus. This began at 10 minutes and peaked 20-40 minutes post histamine injection, declining over the next hour. Histamine itself elicited bouts of scratching not associated with the mechanical stimulus, which ceased after 30 minutes. Histamine- and touch-evoked scratching was inhibited by the μ-opiate antagonist naltrexone. Touch-evoked scratching was observed following i.d. 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine), a protease-activated receptor (PAR)-4 agonist, and an MrgprC11 agonist BAM8-22, but not chloroquine or a PAR-2 agonist. The histamine H1 receptor antagonist terfenadine prevented scratching and alloknesis evoked by histamine, but not 5-HT, a PAR-4 agonist or an MrgprC11 agonist. In mice with experimental dry skin, there was a time-dependent increase in spontaneous and touch-evoked scratching. This animal model appears to be useful to investigate neural mechanisms of itch and alloknesis.
AB - Lightly touching normal skin near a site of itch can elicit itch sensation, a phenomenon known as alloknesis. To investigate the neural mechanisms of alloknesis, we have developed an animal model. Low-threshold mechanical stimulation of the skin normally does not elicit any response in naive C57/BL6 mice. Following acute intradermal (i.d.) injection of histamine in the rostral back, mechanical stimulation 7 mm from the injection site elicited discrete hindlimb scratch bouts directed toward the stimulus. This began at 10 minutes and peaked 20-40 minutes post histamine injection, declining over the next hour. Histamine itself elicited bouts of scratching not associated with the mechanical stimulus, which ceased after 30 minutes. Histamine- and touch-evoked scratching was inhibited by the μ-opiate antagonist naltrexone. Touch-evoked scratching was observed following i.d. 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine), a protease-activated receptor (PAR)-4 agonist, and an MrgprC11 agonist BAM8-22, but not chloroquine or a PAR-2 agonist. The histamine H1 receptor antagonist terfenadine prevented scratching and alloknesis evoked by histamine, but not 5-HT, a PAR-4 agonist or an MrgprC11 agonist. In mice with experimental dry skin, there was a time-dependent increase in spontaneous and touch-evoked scratching. This animal model appears to be useful to investigate neural mechanisms of itch and alloknesis.
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U2 - 10.1038/jid.2012.52
DO - 10.1038/jid.2012.52
M3 - Article
VL - 132
SP - 1886
EP - 1891
JO - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
JF - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
SN - 0022-202X
IS - 7
ER -