Descending dopaminergic pathway facilitates itch signal processing via spinal GRPR+ neurons

ABSTRACT: A11 dopaminergic neurons regulate somatosensory transduction by projecting from the diencephalon to the spinal cord, but the function of this descending projection in itch remained elusive. Here we report that dopaminergic projection neurons from the A11 nucleus to the spinal dorsal horn (dopaminergicA11-SDH) are activated by pruritogens. Inhibition of these neurons alleviates itch-induced scratching behaviors. Furthermore, chemogenetic inhibition of spinal dopamine receptor D1-expressing (DRD1+) neurons decreases acute or chronic itch-induced scratching. Mechanistically, spinal DRD1+ neurons are excitatory and mostly co-localize with gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), an endogenous neuropeptide for itch. In addition, DRD1+ neurons form synapses with GRP receptor-expressing (GRPR+) neurons a

SUBMITTER: Prof. Zhi-Jun Zhang 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_15252-EMBR_202256098 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other