Gastrin-Releasing Peptide/Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor Participation in Itch Sensation Signaling in the Spinal Cord of Uremic Pruritus Mice

• Published in: Alternative therapies in health and medicine
• Main Authors: Li, Huili, Gao, Weiwei, Zhang, Ze, Chen, Hao, Wang, Yitong, Du, Liang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 18.04.2024
• ISSN: 1078-6791

Uremic pruritus is a prevalent clinical symptom in maintenance dialysis patients. Existing evidence establishes a connection between itch transmission and the gastrin-releasing peptide/gastrin-releasing peptide receptor signaling pathway. To investigate the involvement of the gastrin-releasing peptide/gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in itch sensation signaling within the spinal cord of uremic pruritus. An animal study was conducted. The research was conducted at the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University. A total of 50 male C57BL/6J mice (weight: 30-40 g) were acquired from Beijing Weitonglihua Laboratory Animal Center. Mice were categorized into five groups: normal, sham, Y, A, and B. The Y group received intrathecal injections of saline (5 ul). The A group received intrathecal injections of gastrin-releasing peptide (0.1 nmol, 5 ul), and the B group received intrathecal injections of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor antagonist RC-3095 (0.3 mmol, 5 ul). (1) Pruritus behavior of mice and (2) expression of gastrin-releasing peptide, gastrin-releasing peptide receptor, and inositol trisphosphate. Scratching times in the Y group significantly surpassed those of normal and sham groups, increasing over time. Gastrin-releasing peptide and receptor expression rose in the uremic pruritus mouse model compared to normal and sham groups (P < .05). Expression of gastrin-releasing peptide and its receptor was significantly elevated in the uremic pruritus mouse model compared to the normal and sham groups (P < .05). Inositol trisphosphate expression in the dorsal spinal horn of Y group mice increased compared to normal and sham groups. Intrathecal gastrin-releasing peptide heightened inositol trisphosphate expression, while the peptide receptor antagonist RC-3095 reduced it. Y group scratching times were higher than normal and sham groups, increasing after intrathecal gastrin-releasing peptide but decreasing after RC-3095 injection. The gastrin-releasing peptide/gastrin-releasing peptide receptor signaling pathway is involved in the development of uremic pruritus.