A Subpopulation of Amygdala Neurons Mediates the Affective Component of Itch

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Kristen M SandersTasuku Akiyama

Abstract

Itch consists of both sensory and affective components. For chronic itch patients, the affective component of itch affects both quality of life (leading to psychological comorbidities) and disease prognosis (by promoting scratching of itchy skin). We found that acute itch stimuli, such as histamine, induced anxiety-like behavior and increased activity (c-Fos expression) in the amygdala in adult male C57BL/6 mice. Itch stimuli also increased activity in projection areas to the amygdala, suggesting that these regions form a circuit for affective itch processing. Electrophysiological characterization of histamine-responsive amygdala neurons showed that this population was active on a behaviorally relevant timescale and partially overlapped with pain signaling. Selective optogenetic activation of histamine-responsive amygdala neurons in adult male and female Fos:CreERT2;R26Ai14 mice using the Targeted Recombination in Active Populations system enhanced both scratching and anxiety-like behavior. These results highlight the importance of itch-responsive amygdala neurons in modulating itch-related affect and behavior.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The sensation of itch includes an affective component that leads to stress and anxiety in chroni...Continue Reading

Citations

Dec 24, 2019·Physiological Reviews·Ferda Cevikbas, Ethan A Lerner
Aug 6, 2019·Frontiers in Medicine·Martin Schmelz
Jun 18, 2020·Nature Communications·Xiao-Jun Chen, Yan-Gang Sun
Nov 5, 2020·Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV·P NajafiJ-L Carré
Nov 24, 2020·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Sophie LonguevilleJean-Antoine Girault
Mar 10, 2020·Clinical Therapeutics·Rachel Shireen GolpanianGil Yosipovitch
Apr 2, 2021·Frontiers in Medicine·Martin Schmelz
Jul 31, 2021·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Paul M KlenowskiAndrew R Tapper

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