| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,880,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000)
Fiscal Year 2007: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000)
Fiscal Year 2006: ¥3,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000)
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| Research Abstract |
The following report describes our research using the mouse pruritis-model to investigate the factors that trigger pruritis and contribute to its worsening. Moreover, we also extended our research to anti-pruritics as an effort to discover new itch-suppression materials from natural resources which are essential in treatment of atopic dermatitis and other skin inflammations.
1. Central nervous system mechanisms present in the model for transient pruritis have been observed in the NC mice of atopic dermatitis model. This model was used for atopic dermatitis in an effort to create a model that exhibits worsening of pruritis in response to stress. In order to quantify the stress level in mice, biochemistry of blood was performed to measure the concentrations of corticosterone, a stress hormone. Then, using a communications box purchased out of the equipment budget for this application, we applied random direct shocks to induce stress in mice, creating easily replicable stress conditions within a short span of time. Consequently, we also investigated the correlation and relationship between the degree of stress and the scratching behaviour in vivo.
2. We used a variety of assay methods to create an index for measuring the frequency of scratching for degranulating compound 48/80, serotonin and platelet activating factor, and protease, which specifically increase at the site of inflammation. In our search for seeds from natural resources, containing anti-pruritic properties we discovered that the bud of the white Rose of Sharon, obtained from the Shrubalthea Flower, Chinese medicine was effective, we investigated the effectiveness of different varieties of Rose of Sharon, and observed that the red buds were more effective against allergic pruritis than the white buds used in Chinese medicine. Moreover, we were also able to clarify that the active ingredients consisted of several varieties of flavonol and anthocyan derivatives.
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