| First Author | Bourane S | Year | 2015 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 350 |
| Issue | 6260 | Pages | 550-4 |
| PubMed ID | 26516282 | Mgi Jnum | J:226610 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5697982 | Doi | 10.1126/science.aac8653 |
| Citation | Bourane S, et al. (2015) Gate control of mechanical itch by a subpopulation of spinal cord interneurons. Science 350(6260):550-4 |
| abstractText | Light mechanical stimulation of hairy skin can induce a form of itch known as mechanical itch. This itch sensation is normally suppressed by inputs from mechanoreceptors; however, in many forms of chronic itch, including alloknesis, this gating mechanism is lost. Here we demonstrate that a population of spinal inhibitory interneurons that are defined by the expression of neuropeptide Y::Cre (NPY::Cre) act to gate mechanical itch. Mice in which dorsal NPY::Cre-derived neurons are selectively ablated or silenced develop mechanical itch without an increase in sensitivity to chemical itch or pain. This chronic itch state is histamine-independent and is transmitted independently of neurons that express the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor. Thus, our studies reveal a dedicated spinal cord inhibitory pathway that gates the transmission of mechanical itch. |
