Sakata D, Uruno T, Matsubara K, Andoh T, Yamamura K, Magoshi Y, Kunimura K, Kamikaseda Y, Furue M, Fukui Y (2019) Selective role of neurokinin B in IL-31–induced itch response in mice. J Allergy Clin Immunol 144(4):1130-1133. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.06.031

Objective: To examine the physiological significance of neurokinin B in IL-31–induced itch sensation.

Summary: IL-31–induced scratching was unaffected by intrathecal injection of Nppb-SAP. In contrast,treatment with Bombesin-SAP reduced IL-31–induced scratching. Neurokinin B acts upstream of GRP to transmit IL-31–induced itch sensation.

Usage: Intrathecal injection

Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40), Nppb-SAP (Cat. #IT-69), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21), NKB-SAP (Cat. #IT-63)

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).

Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40), SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21)

Gao ZR, Chen WZ, Liu MZ, Chen XJ, Wan L, Zhang XY, Yuan L, Lin JK, Wang M, Zhou L, Xu XH, Sun YG (2019) Tac1-expressing neurons in the periaqueductal gray facilitate the itch-scratching cycle via descending regulation. Neuron 101(1):45-59.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.11.010

Objective: To determine the neural mechanism promoting the itch-scratching cycle.

Summary: Ablation of Tac1+ but not SST+ neurons decreases itch-induced scratching behavior. l/vlPAG Tac1+ neurons Induce Scratching Behavior via a Descending Pathway.

Usage: To ablate the spinal GRPR+ neurons, mice were intrathecally injected with Bombesin-SAP or Control Blank-SAP (400 ng/5 mL).

Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21)

Huang J, Polgár E, Solinski HJ, Mishra SK, Tseng PY, Iwagaki N, Boyle KA, Dickie AC, Kriegbaum MC, Wildner H, Zeilhofer HU, Watanabe M, Riddell JS, Todd AJ, Hoon MA (2018) Circuit dissection of the role of somatostatin in itch and pain. Nat Neurosci 21(5):707-716. doi: 10.1038/s41593-018-0119-z

Objective: To determine the role of somatostatin in itch and pain.

Summary: Results define the neural circuit underlying somatostatin-induced itch and characterize a contrasting antinociceptive role for the peptide.

Usage: Ablation of Npr1- and GRPR-expressing spinal cord interneurons was accomplished by intrathecal (segment L3/4) injection of Nppb-SAP (4 μg/10 μL) and Bombesin-SAP (2.5 μg) respectively.

Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40), Nppb-SAP (Cat. #IT-69)

Mu D, Sun Y-G (2017) Itch induces conditioned place aversion in mice. Neuroscience Letters 658:91-96.. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.08.046

Summary: Consistently, ablation of itch‐specific neurons that express gastrin‐releasing peptide receptor in the spinal cord also abolished itch‐induced Conditioned Place Aversion (CPA), confirming that itch‐induced CPA is dependent on the spinal itch circuit.

Usage: Mice were given a single intrathecal injection (400 ng/5 μl each) of Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40) or Control Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21).

Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21)

Barry DM, Munanairi A, Chen Z-F (2018) Spinal mechanisms of itch transmission. Neurosci Bull 34:156-164. doi: 10.1007/s12264-017-0125-2

Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40)

Yu Y-Q, Barry DM, Hao Y, Liu X-T, Chen Z-F (2017) Molecular and neural basis of contagious itch behavior in mice. Science 355:1072. doi: 10.1126/science.aak9748

Summary: The authors selectively ablated the SCN gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) neurons using Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40), a peptide-conjugated toxin that kills GRPR neurons in the spinal cord. After bilateral injection of Bombesin-SAP into the SCN, immunohistochemistry showed that Bombesin-SAP injection resulted in ablation of SCN GRPR+ neurons.

Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40)

Li P, Janczewski W, Yackle K, Kam K, Pagliardini S, Krasnow M, Feldman J (2016) The peptidergic control circuit for sighing. Nature 530:293-297. doi: 10.1038/nature16964

Summary: Sighs are often associated with relief or sadness, but rodents sigh spontaneously dozens of times per hour. There are physiological benefits to sighing, including enhancement of gas exchange and preservation of lung integrity. The authors identify a peptidergic sigh control circuit in the retrotrapezoid nucleus/parafacial respiratory group of the mouse brain that projects to the pre-Bötzinger complex. Mice received bilateral 6.2-ng injections of Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40) into the pre-Bötzinger complex. Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21) was used as control. Elimination of the bombesin receptor-expressing neurons or inhibition of neuromedin B receptor-expressing neurons suppressed sighing. Interfering with the activity of both receptors abolished sigh activity while leaving normal breathing intact. The data suggest that overlapping peptidergic pathways are the core of a sigh control circuit.

Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21)

Bourane S, Duan B, Koch S, Dalet A, Britz O, Garcia-Campmany L, Kim E, Cheng L, Ghosh A, Ma Q, Goulding M (2015) Gate control of mechanical itch by a subpopulation of spinal cord interneurons. Science 350:550-554. doi: 10.1126/science.aac8653

Summary: Light mechanical stimulation of the 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. Scientists demonstrated that a population of spinal inhibitory interneurons (INs), 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 the GRP-GRPR signaling pathway. The scientists thereby revealed a dedicated spinal cord inhibitory pathway that gates the transmission of mechanical itch. Mice were given an intrathecal injection of 400 ng of Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40) in 10 ml of sterile saline to ablate GRPR-expressing neurons.

Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40)

Akiyama T, Nguyen T, Curtis E, Nishida K, Devireddy J, Delahanty J, Carstens M, Carstens E (2015) A central role for spinal dorsal horn neurons that express neurokinin-1 receptors in chronic itch. Pain 156:1240-1246. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000172

Summary: Chronic itch is caused by increased sensitivity of itch-signaling pathways. It can be generated by normally itchy stimuli (hyperknesis) and by normally non-itchy light touch (alloknesis). The authors used an ovalbumin-induced atopic dermatitis model to study chronic itch in mice. The mice received 400-ng intrathecal injections of Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40), SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11), or the control Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21). While Bombesin-SAP significantly attenuated hyperknesis, it had no effect on spontaneous scratching or alloknesis. SSP-SAP reduced all behavioral signs of chronic itch.

Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40), SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21)