Abstract
Itch is relieved by scratching, but the neural mechanisms that are responsible for this are unknown. Spinothalamic tract (STT) neurons respond to itch-producing agents and transmit pruritic information to the brain. We observed that scratching the cutaneous receptive field of primate STT neurons produced inhibition during histamine-evoked activity but not during spontaneous activity or activity evoked by a painful stimulus, suggesting that scratching inhibits the transmission of itch in the spinal cord in a state-dependent manner.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Action Potentials / drug effects
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Action Potentials / physiology
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Afferent Pathways / drug effects
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Afferent Pathways / physiology*
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Animals
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Haplorhini
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Histamine
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Histamine Agonists
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Mechanoreceptors / physiology
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Neural Inhibition / drug effects
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Neural Inhibition / physiology*
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / physiology*
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Nociceptors / drug effects
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Nociceptors / physiology
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Physical Stimulation
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Pruritus / chemically induced
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Pruritus / physiopathology*
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Sensory Receptor Cells / drug effects
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Sensory Receptor Cells / physiology
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Skin / innervation
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Spinothalamic Tracts / physiology*
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Touch / physiology
Substances
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Histamine Agonists
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Histamine