Spinal Neuropeptide Y1 Receptor-Expressing Neurons Form an Essential Excitatory Pathway for Mechanical Itch. (2019). Cell Reports, 28 (3):625-639.e626. Acton D, Ren X, Di Costanzo S, Dalet A, Bourane S, Bertocchi I, Eva C, & Goulding M.
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.
Dose: 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).
Also see:
Cross-Talk between Distinct Receptors Shapes Itch Behavior in the Spinal Cord (September 14, 2018). Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3249822. Meng, Qing-Tao et al.
Summary: Consistently, Nppb-SAP ablated spinal Npr1 and Npr3 neurons and impaired histamine-, but not CQ-evoked, itch. Thus, the findings identify the role of BNP-NPRC signaling in modulation of histamine-evoked itch via NPRC-NMBR cross-talk independent of GRP-GRPR signaling. Our studies reveal distinct modes of action for bombesin-related peptides and NP in itch transmission.