Itch and pain are unpleasant sensations that distress many patients with disease. However, most studies have focused on the neural mechanisms of pain, and much less effort has been devoted to itch. It has been reported that itch and pain might share a common pathway, and γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA_A) receptors in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) are involved in pain modulation. However, the contribution of GABA_A receptors in the CeA to the modulation of itch remains poorly understood. Herein, we report that bilateral intra-CeA microinjection of a selective GABA_A receptor agonist muscimol hydrochloride (Mus; 50 ng per side), but not a selective GABA_A receptor antagonist bicuculline (Bic; 20 ng per side) or vehicle, showed significant analgesic effects, reflected by an increase in tail-flick latency and a decrease in allyl isothiocyanate (mustard oil)–evoked ipsilateral forelimb wipes. More importantly, rats subjected to intra-CeA infusion of Bic showed a significantly greater number of scratching bouts and time in acute and chronic pruritus animal models than control rats. Conversely, intra-CeA infusion of Mus in animal models dramatically decreased the number of scratching bouts and time compared with control rats. In addition, intra-CeA infusion of Bic or Mus at the current dose had no obvious effects on other behaviors including locomotor activity and spontaneous facial grooming in rats subjected to cheek microinjection of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Taken together, these results indicate that the GABA_A receptor–mediated inhibitory system in the CeA is involved in itch modulation as well as is known in pain control.

Itch, especially chronic itch, remains a challenge in clinic. Results of this study showed that the GABA_A receptors in the CeA play an important role in itch modulation, which might help us to better understand the mechanisms of itch and subsequently develop novel mechanisms-based strategies to treat chronic itch in clinic.