title: Spinal c-fos expression associated with spontaneous biting in a mouse model of dry skin pruritus.
abstract: As a model of dry skin pruritus in mice, one hind paw was treated twice daily with a mixture of acetone/diethylether/water (AEW); controls received water only. A protective collar prevented the animals from accessing the treatment area. At 16 days, the collar was removed and AEW-treated mice exhibited marked biting of the treated paw; the number and cumulative duration of bites was significantly greater than in controls. After 3 additional treatment days (collars intact), animals were perfused for c-fos immunohistochemistry. There was significantly more fos-like immunoreactivity in the ipsilateral lumbar spinal cord of AEW-treated animals, with the majority in superficial laminae. It is proposed that biting of the dry skin reflects pruritus, and that neurons predominantly in superficial laminae of the dorsal horn may signal itch sensation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nojima
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cuellar
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: Mirela Iodi
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Carstens
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carstens
mesh_terms: D000096:Acetone; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004986:Ether; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D004986:Ether; D000096:Acetone