Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2025

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors
Published on: September 27, 2019
Spinal glial cells in itch modulation
Miho Shiratori-Hayashi1, Makoto Tsuda1
1Department of Molecular and System Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Abstract:
Glial cells are non-neuronal cells in the nervous system that are electrically non-excitable and outnumber neurons in humans. Glial cells have attracted attention in recent years for their active involvement in the regulation of neuronal activity, suggesting their contribution to the pathogenesis and progression of neurological diseases. Studies have shown that astrocytes, a type of glial cell, are activated in the spinal cord in response to skin inflammation and contribute to the exacerbation of chronic itch. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the role of astrocytes and other glial cells in the modulation of itch processing and the mechanism of their activation under itch conditions.
Related Concept Videos
Glial Cells
Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells
The CNS glial cell includes the astrocytes, the oligodendrocytes, the microglia, and the ependymal cells.
Astrocytes are star-shaped glial...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways
Spinal Cord: Information Processing
Sensory Information Processing
Sensory information processing begins at the sensory receptors located in the skin and other tissues, which detect somatic sensory stimuli such as touch, temperature, or pain. These receptors function as catalysts, initiating...

