Itch-Associated Responses of Afferent Nerve Innervating the Murine Skin: Different Effects of Histamine and Serotonin in ICR and ddY Mice

To assess the itch-associated response of primary afferents innervating the murine skin in vivo, dose-response curves and time-courses for itch-scratching and cutaneous nerve firing responses to intradermal injections of pruritogens (histamine and serotonin) were compared in ICR and ddY mice. Serotonin increased the itch-scratch response and cutaneous nerve firing in either ICR or ddY mice. Histamine increased these two responses in ICR, but not ddY, mice. The dose-response curves and time-courses for serotonin- and histamine-induced nerve firing were similar to those for the itch-scratch response. The results suggest that cutaneous nerve firing evoked by peripherally given pruritogens includes the itch-associated response.