Sex Differences in Scratching Behaviors Induced by Intradermal Injections of Pruritogenic Chemicals in C57BL/6 Mice

Abstract

Pruritus is an individual unpleasant sensation of human sensory nervous system. In the physiological condition it excerts a self-protective mechanism to protect the skin against external harmful agents. Pruritoceptive itch is also a major symptom of skin disease and a common reason for consulting a dermatologist in clinic. It has been well known that both histamine-dependent and histamine-independent pathways mediate acute and chronic itch sensations. Previous studies have showed common neural pathways partially shared by itch and pain sensation, and significant sex differences in pain sensation. However, sex difference in itch sensation has not been given too much attention as the majority of itch studies were done in male mice or rats till now. In the present study, we compared the scratching behaviors induced by pruritogenic agents in male and female C57BL/6 mice. The results showed that both males and females exhibited scratching behaviors in response to the intradermal injection of histamine-dependent and histamine-independent pruritogenic chemicals. Moreover, the number of scratching behaviors in response to compound 4880 and chloroquine were significantly higher in females. These results suggested that sex differences occured in histamine-dependent compound 4880-induced and histamine-independent chloroquine-induced itch sensations, but not in histamine-independent SLIGRL-NH2-induced itch sensation.

Share and Cite:

Liu, C. , Liang, L. , Han, Y. , Zhang, M. , Xie, Y. , Han, W. , Hu, S. , Zhang, H. and Xu, H. (2012) Sex Differences in Scratching Behaviors Induced by Intradermal Injections of Pruritogenic Chemicals in C57BL/6 Mice. Neuroscience and Medicine, 3, 314-320. doi: 10.4236/nm.2012.33036.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] A. Ikoma, M. Steinhoff, S. Stander, G. Yosipovitch and M. Schmelz, “The Neurobiology of Itch,” Nature Reviews, Neuroscience, Vol. 7, No. 7, 2006, pp. 535-547.
[2] G. Yosipovitch, M. W. Greaves and M. Schmelz, “Itch,” The Lancet, Vol. 361, No. 9358, 2003, pp. 690-694. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12570-6
[3] E. Weisshaar, M. J. Kucenic and A. B. Fleischer, “Pruritus: A Review,” Acta Derm Venereology, Vol. 213, 2003, pp. 5-32.
[4] S. Stander, E. Weisshaar, M. Steinhof, T. A. Luger and D. Metze, “Pruritus—Pathophysiology, Clinical Features and Therapy—An Overview,” Journal of the German Society of Dermatology, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2003, pp. 105-118. doi:10.1046/j.1610-0387.2003.02023.x
[5] A. Reich, S. Stander and J. C. Szepietowski, “Drug-Induced Pruritus: A Review,” Acta Derm Venereologica, Vol. 89, No. 3, 2009, pp. 236-244. doi:10.2340/00015555-0650
[6] S. Davidson and G. J. Giesler, “The Multiple Pathways for Itch and Their Interactions with Pain,” Trends Neuro-sciences, Vol. 33, No. 12, 2010, pp. 550-558. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2010.09.002
[7] Y. Kuraishi, T. Nagasawa, K. Hayashi and M. Satoh, “Scratching Behavior Induced by Pruritogenic but Not Algesiogenic Agents in Mice,” European Journal of Pharmacology, Vol. 275, No. 3, 1995, pp. 229-233. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(94)00780-B
[8] M. Steinhoff, U. Neisius, A. Ikoma, M. Fartasch, G. Heyer, P. S. Skov, T. A. Luger and M. Schmelz, “Proteinase Activated Receptor-2 Mediates Itch: A Novel Pathway for Pruritus in Human Skin,” Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 23, No. 15, 2003, pp. 6176-6180.
[9] S. G. Shimada, K. A. Shimada and J. G. Collins, “Scratching Behavior in Mice Induced by the Proteinase-Activated Receptor-2 Agonist, SLIGRL-NH2,” European Journal of Pharmacology, Vol. 530, No. 3, 2006, pp. 281-283. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2005.11.012
[10] A. Mlynek, M. Magerl, M. Hanna, S. Lhachimi, I. Baiardini, G. W. Canonica, Z. Brzoza, A. Kasperska-Zajac, B. Rogala, A. Zalewska-Janowska, T. Zuberbier and M. Maurer, “The German Version of the Chronic Urticaria Quality-of-Life Questionnaire: Factor Analysis, Validation, and Initial Clinical Findings,” Allergy, Vol. 64, No. 6, 2009, pp. 927-936. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2008.01920.x
[11] P. Dyachenko, A. Shustak and D. Rozenman, “Hemodialysis-Related Pruritus and Associated Cutaneous Manifestations,” International Journal of Dermatology, Vol. 45, No. 6, 2006, pp. 664-667. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02592.x
[12] Y.-G. Sun and Z.-F. Chen, “A Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor Mediates the Itch Sensation in the Spinal Cord,” Nature, Vol. 448, No. 7154, 2007, pp. 700-703.
[13] C. C. A. Palmeira, H. A. Ashmawi and I. P. Posso, “Sex and Pain Perception and Analgesia,” Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology, Vol. 61, No. 6, 2011, pp. 814-828.
[14] K. J. Berkley, S. S. Zalcman and V. R. Simon, “Sex and Gender Differences in Pain and Inflammation: A Rapidly Maturing Field,” American Journal of Physiology Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol. 291, No. 2, 2006, pp. R241-R244. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00287.2006
[15] R. B. Fillingim, C. D. King, M. C. Ribeiro-Dasilva, B. Rahim-Williams and J. L. Riley, “Sex, Gender, and Pain: A Review of Recent Clinical and Experimental Findings,” Journal of Pain, Vol. 10, No. 5, 2009, pp. 447-485. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2008.12.001
[16] C. S. Weisse, K. K. Foster and E. A. Fisher, “The Influence of Experimenter Gender and Race on Pain Reporting: Does Racial or Gender Concordance Matter?” Pain Medicine, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2005, pp. 80-87. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4637.2005.05004.x
[17] H. Umeuchi, Y. Kawashima, C. A. Aoki, T. Kurokawa, K. Nakao, M. Itoh, K. Kikuchi, T. Kato, K. Okano, M. E. Gershwin and H. Miyakawa, “Spontaneous Scratching Behavior in MRL/Lpr Mice, a Possible Model for Pruritus in Autoimmune Diseases, and Antipruritic Activity of a Novel K-Opioid Receptor Agonist Nalfurafine Hydrochloride,” European Journal of Pharmacology, Vol. 518, No. 2-3, 2005, pp. 133-139. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2005.06.019
[18] Q. Liu, Z. Tang, L. Surdenikova, S. Kim, K. N. Patel, A. Kim, F. Ru, Y. Guan, H. J. Weng, Y. Geng, B. J. Undem, M. Kollarik, Z. F. Chen, D. J. Anderson and X. Dong, “Sensory Neuron-Specific GPCR Mrgprs Are Itch Receptors Mediating Chloroquine-Induced Pruritus,” Cell, Vol. 139, No. 7, 2009, pp. 1353-1365. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2009.11.034
[19] J. M. Tall and T. Crisp, “Effects of Gender and Gonadal Hormones on Nociceptive Responses to Intraplantar Carrageenan in the Rat,” Neuroscience Letters, Vol. 354, No. 3, 2004, pp. 239-241. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2003.09.081
[20] J. Lei, L. Jin, Y. Zhao, M. Y. Sui, L. Huang, Y. X. Tan, Y. K. Chen and H. J. You, “Sex-Related Differences in Descending Norepinephrine and Serotonin Controls of Spinal Withdrawal Reflex during Intramuscular Saline Induced Muscle Nociception in Rats,” Experimental Neurology, Vol. 228, No. 2, 2011, pp. 206-214. doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.01.004
[21] L. A. Henderson, S. C. Gandevia and V. G. Macefield, “Gender Differences in Brain Activity Evoked by Muscle and Cutaneous Pain: A Retrospective Study of Single-Trial Fmri Data,” Neuroimage, Vol. 39, No. 4, 2008, pp. 1867-1876. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.10.045
[22] P. E. Paulson, S. Minoshima, T. J. Morrow and K. L. Casey, “Gender Differences in Pain Perception and Patterns of Cerebral Activation during Noxious Heat Stimulation in Humans,” Pain, Vol. 76, No. 1-2, 1998, pp. 223-229. doi:10.1016/S0304-3959(98)00048-7
[23] W. Magerl, R. A. Westerman, B. Mohner and H. O. Handwerker, “Properties of Transdermal Histamine Ionto-phoresis: Differential Effects of Season, Gender, and Body Region,” Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Vol. 94, No. 3, 1990, pp. 347-352. doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12874474
[24] N. E. Van Loey, M. Bremer, A. W. Faber, E. Middelkoop and M. K. Nieuwenhuis, “Itching Following Burns: Epidemiology and Predictors,” British Journal of Dermatology, Vol. 158, No. 1, 2008, pp. 95-100.
[25] A. D. Green, K. K. Young, S. G. Lehto, S. B. Smith and J. S. Mogil, “Influence of Genotype, Dose and Sex on Pruritogen-Induced Scratching Behavior in the Mouse,” Pain, Vol. 124, No. 1-2, 2006, pp. 50-58. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2006.03.023
[26] P. Ghi, M. Orsetti, S. R. Gamalero and C. Ferretti, “Sex Differences in Memory Performance in the Object Recognition Test. Possible Role of Histamine Receptors,” Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, Vol. 64, No. 4, 1999, pp. 761-766. doi:10.1016/S0091-3057(99)00143-4
[27] V. M. Miller, L. Li and G. C. Sieck, “Endothelium Dependent Effects of Estrogen on Vasomotor Tone. Consequences of Nongenomic Actions,” Vascular Pharmacology, Vol. 38, No. 2, 2002, pp. 109-113. doi:10.1016/S0306-3623(02)00134-9
[28] E. A. Townsend, M. A. Thompson, C. M. Pabelick and Y. S. Prakash, “Rapid Effects of Estrogen on Intracellular Ca2+ Regulation in Human Airway Smooth Muscle,” American Journal of Physiology Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Vol. 298, No. 4, 2011, pp. L521-L530. doi:10.1152/ajplung.00287.2009
[29] S. L. Byers, M. V. Wiles, S. L. Dunn and R. A. Taft, “Mouse Estrous Cycle Identification Tool and Images,” PLoS One, Vol. 7, No. 4, 2012, pp. e35538. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035538
[30] O. A. Leylek, S. Unlu, S. Ozturkcan, A. Cetin, M. Sahin and E. Yildiz, “Estrogen Dermatitis,” European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Vol. 72, No. 1, 1997, pp. 97-103.

Journals Menu
Follow SCIRP
Contact us
+1 323-425-8868
customer@scirp.org
WhatsApp +86 18163351462(WhatsApp)
Click here to send a message to me 1655362766
Paper Publishing WeChat

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

  翻译：