Over the years, scientists have thought itching is a manifestation of pain or even a malfunction of sensitive nerve endings. They wondered if it was psychological. A new study occurred at John Hopkins University where a group of neuroscientists have isolated a type of nerve that is unique in a way that it only makes you itch. Liang Han and Xinzhong Dong found that some neurons have protein receptors at the nerve endings called MrgprA3. In their experimentation, they saw that these neurons would produce electrical signal to itch creating chemicals but wouldn't with painful stimuli such as capsaicin, the substance in hot peppers. The researchers genetically killed the MRgprA3 population in mice to view the effects. The mice no longer scratched, but also didn't respond to any pain. This behavior reassured that MrgprA3-containing neurons are key to itch, but does not rule out that they could respond to other effects as well. They experimented again with the mice who lacked capsaicin receptors and inserted capsaicin receptors inside the MrgprA3 neurons. The mice itched but did not wince in pain, which confirms that MrgprA3 is an itch neuron and not for pain.
NOS Themes:
- Science is collaborative
- Science is based on evidence
- Role of credibility
- Role of motivation and curiosity
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