Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors
Published on: September 27, 2019
Updated neurophysiology of itch
1Research and Development, Galderma Japan, 13–1 Nishigokencho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162–0812, Japan. akihiko.ikoma@galderma.com
Abstract:
The unique physiological features of histamine-sensitive C-fibers and spinothalamic tract neurons support the hypothesis of itch specific pathway, whereas subsequent studies on cowhage-induced itch have provided evidence against it, suggesting the presence of multiple neural pathways for itch. Not only peripheral pruritogens but also spinal neural receptors are involved in the control of itch, and will be the target of treatment. Itch sensitization in chronic pruritus is another crucial factor that needs to be considered in the treatment. Neuropathic itch is the type of itch that occurs when nerve fibers are damaged or injured and spontaneous firing of nerves takes place, and plays a major role in itch accompanying some pathological conditions such as herpes zoster. The complexity of itch is due to the broad range of mediators involved and the large variety of neural mechanisms behind.
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