Suppression of scratching-induced pleasurable sensation by compression nerve blocking and its association with itch relief.

ABSTRACT: Itch can be suppressed by scratching. At the same time, scratching evokes a pleasurable sensation. In the present study, we investigated the peripheral mechanism of scratching-induced pleasurability and its association with itch relief using compression nerve block. We found that myelinated nerve fibers (A?-fibers and possibly A?-fibers), are involved in transmission of scratching-induced pleasurability. We observed that itch relief effect was the same regardless of whether the pleasurable sensation was evoked by scratching an itch, indicating that pleasure is not a necessary component to induce itch relief. This is the first study to investigate the peripheral mechanism of scratching-induced pleasurability and itch relief.

SUBMITTER: Mochizuki H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6372058 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature