Interesting discovery:
Researchers found that removing natriuretic polypeptide b causes an itch to disappear
Scientists have discovered a key substance in the central nervous system responsible for transmitting the sensation of an itch from the skin to the brain – a finding that raises the prospect of new treatments for serious itching conditions.
Medical researchers have found that the neuro-transmitter, a small molecule that transmits signals between nerve cells, plays a crucial role in the perception of an itch, which in some people can lead to chronic, long-term scratching.
Removing the neurotransmitter – called natriuretic polypeptide b (Nppb) – causes an itch to disappear while replacing it within the spinal cord results in the re-appearance of the itch, said Mark Hoon, a lead investigator at the US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in Washington DC.
“Our work shows that itch, once thought to be a low-level form of pain, is a distinct sensation that is uniquely hardwired into the nervous system with the biochemical equivalent of its own dedicated land line to the brain,” Dr Hoon said.
“Overall, a better understanding of the biology of itch and the molecules involved can only mean we are closer to finding a treatment for chronic itching. Most people think of an itch as an inconvenience, but there are patients who have a poor quality of life because of chronic scratching,” he said.
Full report: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/dont-scratch-the-itch-scientists-find-substance-that-could-be-key-to-stopping-the-sensation-8629833.html