Itch and Pain Differences and Commonalities

摘要: Pain and itch are generally regarded antagonistic as painful stimuli such scratching suppresses itch. Moreover, inhibition of pain processing by opioids generates further supporting their opposing role. Separate specific pathways for have been uncovered, several molecular markers established in mice that identify neurons involved the histaminergic non-histaminergic on primary afferent spinal level. These results agreement with specificity theory might suggest should be investigated separately level neurons, mediators, mechanisms. However, addition to broadly overlapping mediators pain, there is also evidence functions afferents: nociceptive afferents can provoke when activated very locally epidermis, sensitization both nociceptors pruriceptors has found following local nerve growth factor application volunteers. Thus, mechanisms underlie development chronic including spontaneous activity well cord may overlap a great extent. Rather than separating research concepts therefore address common Such an approach appears most appropriate clinical conditions neuropathic inflammatory conditions. While researchers benefit from large body information field, will find behavioral readouts much simpler those animals skin source pruritic more accessible even patients.