Role of nociceptive arcuate nucleus neurons in chloroquine-induced pruritic behaviors in mice

Despite its clinical importance, the underlying central mechanisms of pruritic behaviors are poorly understood. To investigate the role of nociceptive arcuate nucleus neurons in chloroquine-induced pruritic behaviors in mice, we tested the effect of arcuate nucleus neurons and interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) on itch produced by intradermal injection of chloroquine in the nape of the neck. Our results provide several lines of evidence for an important role of nociceptive arcuate nucleus neurons in chloroquine-induced pruritic behavior: (1) Intradermal microinjection of chloroquine resulted in a dramatic increase in itch behaviors accompanied by the activation of c-Fos positive neurons in arcuate nucleus; (2) Microinjection of chloroquine significantly increased IBAT temperature in the mice. These findings suggested that chloroquine-induced pruritic behaviors were associated with the activity of nociceptive arcuate nucleus neurons.