| First Author | Ross SE | Year | 2010 |
| Journal | Neuron | Volume | 65 |
| Issue | 6 | Pages | 886-98 |
| PubMed ID | 20346763 | Mgi Jnum | J:158273 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:4438495 | Doi | 10.1016/j.neuron.2010.02.025 |
| Citation | Ross SE, et al. (2010) Loss of inhibitory interneurons in the dorsal spinal cord and elevated itch in Bhlhb5 mutant mice. Neuron 65(6):886-98 |
| abstractText | Itch is the least well understood of all the somatic senses, and the neural circuits that underlie this sensation are poorly defined. Here we show that the atonal-related transcription factor Bhlhb5 is transiently expressed in the dorsal horn of the developing spinal cord and appears to play a role in the formation and regulation of pruritic (itch) circuits. Mice lacking Bhlhb5 develop self-inflicted skin lesions and show significantly enhanced scratching responses to pruritic agents. Through genetic fate-mapping and conditional ablation, we provide evidence that the pruritic phenotype in Bhlhb5 mutants is due to selective loss of a subset of inhibitory interneurons in the dorsal horn. Our findings suggest that Bhlhb5 is required for the survival of a specific population of inhibitory interneurons that regulate pruritis, and provide evidence that the loss of inhibitory synaptic input results in abnormal itch. |
