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Papers of the Week


Papers: 3 Oct 2020 - 9 Oct 2020


Animal Studies

PAIN TYPE:
Itch


2020 Oct 04


Biochem Biophys Res Commun

Perampanel attenuates scratching behavior induced by acute or chronic pruritus in mice.

Authors

Haruta-Tsukamoto A, Miyahara Y, Funahashi H, Nishimori T, Ishida Y
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2020 Oct 04.
PMID: 33028486.

Abstract

An itch is defined as an unpleasant sensation that evokes a desire to scratch. Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system and has a crucial role in pruriceptive processing in the spinal dorsal horn. It is well known that glutamate exerts its effects by binding to various glutamate receptors including α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, and that AMPA/kainate receptors play a crucial role in pruriceptive processing; however, the precise role of AMPA receptors remains uncertain. Perampanel, an antiepileptic drug, is an antagonist of AMPA receptors. Pretreatment with perampanel dose-dependently attenuated the induction of scratching, a behavior typically associated with pruritus, by intradermal administration of the pruritogen chloroquine. In addition, the induction of scratching in mice painted with diphenylcyclopropenone and NC/Nga mice treated with Biostir AD, animal models of contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis, respectively, was dose-dependently alleviated by administration of perampanel. These findings indicate that AMPA receptors play a crucial role in pruriceptive processing in mice with acute or chronic pruritus.