Spinothalamic lamina I neurons selectively sensitive to histamine: a central neural pathway for itch
Abstract
We found a class of lamina I spinothalamic tract (STT) neurons selectively excited by iontophoretic histamine. The responses of this class of neurons parallel the pure itching sensation this stimulus elicits in humans, and match the responses of peripheral C-fibers that have similar selectivity. These neurons have distinct central conduction velocities and thalamic projections, indicating that they constitute a unique subset of STT neurons. These findings can explain why a lesion of the lateral STT disrupts itch along with pain and temperature sensations. Our findings provide strong evidence that itch is subserved by specific neural elements both peripherally and centrally.
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Itch shares some similarity with pain as both are unpleasant sensations with common pathophysiological features.
“Itch shares some similarity with pain (17) as both are unpleasant sensations with common pathophysiological features (18).”
From Mindfulness as Predictor of Itch Catastrophizing in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: Results of a Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study (2021) · cites this paper as [17]
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“Itch shares some similarity with pain (17) as both are unpleasant sensations with common pathophysiological features (18).”
BackgroundA. D. (Bud) Craig, Jr. (1951–2023)
Blomqvist, A., Evrard, H. C., Dostrovsky, J. O., Strigo, I. A., & Jänig, W. (2023) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41593-023-01463-9 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
- Authors
- Andrew, D., & Craig, A. D.
- Affiliations
- Barrow Neurological Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Andrew, D.
- Venue
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 2001-01
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 72-77
- ISSN
- 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-1726
- OpenAlex
- W1581789522
- Cited by
- 568
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 32 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 18.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r01ns025616-09)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS25616)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Ion Channels and Receptors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatology and Skin Diseases
- Keywords
- pruritus, histamine, spinothalamic tract, C-fibers, central sensitization, thalamic projections, conduction velocity, iontophoresis
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cats, Histamine, Iontophoresis, Lumbosacral Region, Mustard Plant, Nerve Fibers, Neural Conduction, Neural Pathways, Neurons, Afferent, Pain Measurement, Plant Extracts, Plant Oils, Pruritus, Spinothalamic Tracts, Stimulation, Chemical, Thermosensing, Thalamus
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