Exp Dermatol. 2013 Jun;22(6):435-7. doi: 10.1111/exd.12158.
Itch is a cardinal symptom of atopic dermatitis in humans and dogs. Until now, experimental induction of itch in dogs has proven difficult. The objectives of this study were to determine whether protease-rich spicules, protein extracts and the protease mucunain of the tropical legume cowhage provoked itch and inflammation when rubbed onto canine skin. Native spicules variably induced itch manifestations in about half of the dogs, while challenges with protease-deactivated spicules remained negative. The epicutaneous application of cowhage extract and mucunain after microneedle roller usage also induced pruritus and inflammation. Importantly, there was an interindividual inconsistency in pruritus and inflammation induction and also marked differences in pruritus intensity after challenge. In conclusion, cowhage spicules, protein-rich extracts and mucunain can all induce pruritus and inflammation in dogs as in other species, but the inconsistency of provocation is currently a limitation of this challenge type for future studies of pruritus in dogs.
瘙痒是人类和犬类特应性皮炎的主要症状。到目前为止，犬类瘙痒的实验性诱发一直很困难。本研究的目的是确定富含蛋白酶的刺、蛋白提取物和热带豆科植物豇豆中的蛋白酶 mucunain 在摩擦犬类皮肤时是否会引起瘙痒和炎症。天然刺在大约一半的犬中引起了瘙痒症状，而经过蛋白酶失活的刺则没有引起阳性反应。使用微针滚轮后，涂抹豇豆花提取物和 mucunain 也会引起瘙痒和炎症。重要的是，瘙痒和炎症的诱导存在个体间的不一致性，并且在挑战后瘙痒强度也有明显差异。总之，豇豆花刺、富含蛋白质的提取物和 mucunain 都可以像在其他物种中一样引起犬类的瘙痒和炎症，但这种诱发的不一致性是未来犬类瘙痒研究中这种挑战类型的一个限制。
