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Molecular Brain
Published in: Molecular Brain 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Capsaicin | Research

The role of pruriceptors in enhancing sensitivity to pruritogens in a murine chronic compression model of dorsal root ganglion

Authors: Tao Wang, Jin Tao, Yehong Fang, Chao Ma

Published in: Molecular Brain | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Chronic pruritus is a symptom that commonly observed in neurological diseases. It has been hypothesized that the chronic pruritus may result from sensitization of itch-signaling pathways but the mechanisms remain obscure. In this study, we established a mouse model of chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion (CCD) and injected various pruritogenic and algogenic agents intradermally to the calf skin ipsilateral to the compressed dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Compared to the naïve mice, a significant increase in itch-related behaviors was observed in the CCD mice after the injection of pruritogens including histamine and BAM8-22, but not after the injection of capsaicin, although all the above agents evoked enhanced pain-related behaviors toward the injected site. In addition, we investigated if pruritogen-evoked activities of DRG neurons were enhanced in this model. In vivo calcium imaging revealed that compressed DRG neurons exhibited enhanced responses to histamine and BAM8-22. Immunoflorescent staining also showed that the histamine receptor H1 and the capsaicin receptor TRPV1 were significantly upregulated in DRG neurons. Our findings indicated that the sensitization of primary pruriceptive neurons may underlie the enhanced itch sensation after chronic compression of DRG in the mice, and may play a role in chronic pruritus in neurological diseases.
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Metadata
Title
The role of pruriceptors in enhancing sensitivity to pruritogens in a murine chronic compression model of dorsal root ganglion
Authors
Tao Wang
Jin Tao
Yehong Fang
Chao Ma
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Molecular Brain / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1756-6606
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-021-00730-9

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