Abstract
Using a dry skin model in rats, we assessed spontaneous itch-related scratching behavior and associated c-fos expression in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The number of spontaneous bouts of hind limb scratching directed toward the nape of the neck was significantly higher after 5 days of topical application of acetone-diethylether-water (AEW) compared to pre-treatment levels or to control animals treated with water only. In AEW-treated animals, neurons expressing Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) were observed in superficial laminae of the dorsal horn at C3-C5 levels. There was a significant, positive correlation between the number of neurons in lamina I expressing FLI and the number and cumulative duration of spontaneous scratching bouts. These results suggest that this model may be useful to assess mechanisms of dry skin pruritus, and that lamina I neurons are activated as a consequence of itching and/or scratching in this model.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 62-64 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Neuroscience Letters |
| Volume | 347 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 14 2003 |
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Keywords
- c-fos immunoreactivity
- Dorsal horn neuron
- Dry skin
- Itch
- Rat
- Spontaneous scratching
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
c-fos expression in superficial dorsal horn of cervical spinal cord associated with spontaneous scratching in rats with dry skin. / Nojima, Hiroshi; Carstens, Mirela Iodi; Carstens, Earl.
In: Neuroscience Letters, Vol. 347, No. 1, 14.08.2003, p. 62-64.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - c-fos expression in superficial dorsal horn of cervical spinal cord associated with spontaneous scratching in rats with dry skin
AU - Nojima, Hiroshi
AU - Carstens, Mirela Iodi
AU - Carstens, Earl
PY - 2003/8/14
Y1 - 2003/8/14
N2 - Using a dry skin model in rats, we assessed spontaneous itch-related scratching behavior and associated c-fos expression in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The number of spontaneous bouts of hind limb scratching directed toward the nape of the neck was significantly higher after 5 days of topical application of acetone-diethylether-water (AEW) compared to pre-treatment levels or to control animals treated with water only. In AEW-treated animals, neurons expressing Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) were observed in superficial laminae of the dorsal horn at C3-C5 levels. There was a significant, positive correlation between the number of neurons in lamina I expressing FLI and the number and cumulative duration of spontaneous scratching bouts. These results suggest that this model may be useful to assess mechanisms of dry skin pruritus, and that lamina I neurons are activated as a consequence of itching and/or scratching in this model.
AB - Using a dry skin model in rats, we assessed spontaneous itch-related scratching behavior and associated c-fos expression in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The number of spontaneous bouts of hind limb scratching directed toward the nape of the neck was significantly higher after 5 days of topical application of acetone-diethylether-water (AEW) compared to pre-treatment levels or to control animals treated with water only. In AEW-treated animals, neurons expressing Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) were observed in superficial laminae of the dorsal horn at C3-C5 levels. There was a significant, positive correlation between the number of neurons in lamina I expressing FLI and the number and cumulative duration of spontaneous scratching bouts. These results suggest that this model may be useful to assess mechanisms of dry skin pruritus, and that lamina I neurons are activated as a consequence of itching and/or scratching in this model.
KW - c-fos immunoreactivity
KW - Dorsal horn neuron
KW - Dry skin
KW - Itch
KW - Rat
KW - Spontaneous scratching
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037966249&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037966249&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0304-3940(03)00609-8
DO - 10.1016/S0304-3940(03)00609-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 12865142
AN - SCOPUS:0037966249
VL - 347
SP - 62
EP - 64
JO - Neuroscience Letters
JF - Neuroscience Letters
SN - 0304-3940
IS - 1
ER -