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Spinal neuropeptide Y1 receptor-expressing neurons form an essential excitatory pathway for mechanical itch.

Spinal neuropeptide Y1 receptor-expressing neurons form an essential excitatory pathway for mechanical itch.

Acton D, Ren X, DiCostanzo S, Dalet A, Bourane S, Bertocchi I, Eva C, Goulding M (2019) Spinal neuropeptide Y1 receptor-expressing neurons form an essential excitatory pathway for mechanical itch. Cell Reports 28(3):625-639.e6 . doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.06.033

Objective: To determine the central pathway for mechanical itch.

Summary: NPY-Y1 signaling regulates the transmission of innocuous tactile information by establishing biologically relevant thresholds for touch discrimination and mechanical itch reflexes. Neither the evoked nor spontaneous scratching seen following activation of Y1Cre neurons was affected by ablation of the GRPR+ neurons. NK1R+ neuron ablation failed to modulate mechanically evoked itch.

Usage: P28 mice were given a single intrathecal (i.t.) injection of either Bombesin-SAP (400 ng in 5 mL 0.9% sterile saline) to ablate GRPR+ cells or SSP-SAP to ablate NK1r+ neurons (100 ng in 5 mL 0.9% sterile saline). Littermate controls received Blank-SAP (equal mass in 5 mL 0.9% sterile saline).