Punctate Administration of Ficin as a human and animal model of non-histaminergic itch.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ficin, a cysteine protease derived from fig-tree latex, has been reported to elicit itch and nociceptive sensations, though quantitative sensory studies are lacking. Cowhage containing the pruritic cysteine Mucunain, on the contrary, has been widely studied as activating polymodal nociceptors and eliciting a histamine-independent itch.

Objectives

We tested whether ficin in heat-inactivated cowhage spicules would elicit itch and nociceptive sensations in humans, and analogous behaviours in mice, which are similar to those evoked by native cowhage, and whether these behaviours in mice were dose-dependent when ficin was injected intradermally.

Methods

Human volunteers rated the magnitude of itch and nociceptive sensations evoked by either native cowhage spicul

SUBMITTER: Malewicz NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9296617 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature