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. 2000 Dec;123(4):365-8.
doi: 10.1159/000053650.

Inhibition of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis-associated scratching behavior by mu-opioid receptor antagonists in ICR mice

N Inagaki  1 , N Nakamura, M Nagao, H Kawasaki, H Nagai
Affiliations

Inhibition of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis-associated scratching behavior by mu-opioid receptor antagonists in ICR mice

N Inagaki et al. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2000 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Itching in humans is attenuated by mu-opioid receptor antagonists. ICR mice display increases in scratching behavior upon induction of IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), or intradermal injection of compound 48/80 or histamine.

Methods: Cutaneous reactions were induced in ICR mice by IgE-mediated PCA, compound 48/80 and histamine, and the scratching behavior associated with the cutaneous reactions was evaluated.

Results: Naloxone and nalmefene reduced the incidence of scratching behavior associated with PCA. Naloxone also inhibited the induction of scratching behavior caused by compound 48/80 and histamine. Naloxone did not affect the increase in vascular permeability caused by PCA and injection of compound 48/80.

Conclusion: Scratching behavior in mice may be induced by a sensation or a mechanism similar to itching in humans and should become a useful model for examining itching in humans.

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