Time-of-Day-Dependent Variations of Scratching Behavior and TransepidermalWater Loss in Mice that Developed Atopic Dermatitis

[摘要] References(9)Cited-By(1)Scratching and skin barrier dysfunctions are pivotal features and therapeutictargets of atopic dermatitis (AD); however, time-of-day-dependent variations of thesecharacteristics remain unclear. NC/Tnd mice have been shown to exhibit severe scratchingbehavior and skin barrier disruption together with the development of spontaneous atopicdermatitis when they are raised under air-uncontrolled environment. In the present study,time-of-day-dependent variations of scratching behavior and transepidermal water loss(TEWL) were evaluated in NC/Tnd mice that developed moderate to severe AD. Analysis of themice for 24 hr revealed that scratching frequency and duration were increased from in theafternoon to the nocturnal period when locomotor activity was low, and scratching behaviorwas decreased in the morning. The highest scratching frequency and duration were 3.8- and4.1-fold increases in the lowest scratching frequency and duration, respectively. Inaddition, TEWL on the dorsal skin lesion was decreased in the diurnal period, while thatwas increased in the nocturnal period. The highest TEWL was a 1.3-fold increase in thelowest TEWL. Significant daily variations were detected in scratching frequency andduration and TEWL. These results indicate that NC/Tnd mice are an appropriate mouse modelto investigate time-of-day-dependent variations of scratching behavior and skin barrierdysfunctions associated with AD.

[学科分类] 兽医学

[关键词] animal model;atopic dermatitis;itch;time-of-day-dependent variations;transepidermal water loss