| First Author | Liu Q | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | J Neurosci | Volume | 32 |
| Issue | 42 | Pages | 14532-7 |
| PubMed ID | 23077038 | Mgi Jnum | J:267121 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6258972 | Doi | 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3509-12.2012 |
| Citation | Liu Q, et al. (2012) Mechanisms of itch evoked by beta-alanine. J Neurosci 32(42):14532-7 |
| abstractText | beta-Alanine, a popular supplement for muscle building, induces itch and tingling after consumption, but the underlying molecular and neural mechanisms are obscure. Here we show that, in mice, beta-alanine elicited itch-associated behavior that requires MrgprD, a G-protein-coupled receptor expressed by a subpopulation of primary sensory neurons. These neurons exclusively innervate the skin, respond to beta-alanine, heat, and mechanical noxious stimuli but do not respond to histamine. In humans, intradermally injected beta-alanine induced itch but neither wheal nor flare, suggesting that the itch was not mediated by histamine. Thus, the primary sensory neurons responsive to beta-alanine are likely part of a histamine-independent itch neural circuit and a target for treating clinical itch that is unrelieved by anti-histamines. |
