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Scientists have discovered nerve cells that deal solely with itching sensations in a major breakthrough for pain relief.
The breakthrough could lead to a new generation of anti-itch treatments targetting the new cells.
Many experts had previously thought that the receptors for pain and itching were linked.
However, the team from Johns Hopkins University found that certain nerve cells, calle dMrgprA3+, are specialized to detect itchy sensations - and those receptors don?t detect painful sensations.
'Itch-specific neurons have been sought for decades, the researchers say in their paper, published in Nature Neuroscience.
'The existence of such neurons has been doubted recently as a result of the observation that itch-mediating neurons also respond to painful stimuli.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...breakthrough-lead-radical-new-treatments.html
The breakthrough could lead to a new generation of anti-itch treatments targetting the new cells.
Many experts had previously thought that the receptors for pain and itching were linked.
However, the team from Johns Hopkins University found that certain nerve cells, calle dMrgprA3+, are specialized to detect itchy sensations - and those receptors don?t detect painful sensations.
'Itch-specific neurons have been sought for decades, the researchers say in their paper, published in Nature Neuroscience.
'The existence of such neurons has been doubted recently as a result of the observation that itch-mediating neurons also respond to painful stimuli.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...breakthrough-lead-radical-new-treatments.html