Pain and itch sensations are induced by depolarization of C-fibre nerves and possibly other types of fibres. We have evidence from several species, including mice, that skin plasma extravasation induced by the Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom (PNV) is dependent on tachykinin NK1 receptors. We have now investigated the itching measured as bouts of scratching in response to intradermal (i.d.) PNV in wildtype (NK1 +/+) and NK1 receptor knockout (NK1 -/-) mice. Mice, either NK1 +/+ or NK1 -/-, were given a single i.d. injection (0.05 ml) of test agent or vehicle into the shaved dorsal skin, in the intercostal region, in a randomized way. The bouts of scratching were recorded in a blinded manner for 60 min. Oedema formation was concomitantly assessed by the extravascular accumulation of i.v. injected 125I-albumin. The i.d. injection of either substance P (at a high dose of 100 nmol/site), or PNV (0.3-10 μg/site) induced oedema formation in NK1 +/+ but substantially less was observed in NK1 -/- mice, as previously reported. PNV also induced scratching, but significantly less scratching was observed in NK1 -/- compared with NK1 +/+ mice. In contrast, SP did not induce significant scratching at amounts up to 100 nmol in NK1 +/+ mice. Experiments with an NK1 receptor antagonist SR140333 (at doses that blocked PNV-induced oedema) revealed that whilst a local co-injection i.d. (1 nmol) in NK1 +/+ mice had no effect on PNV (3 μg/site)-induced scratching (18.5 ± 3.7 vs. 14.4 ± 3.5 bouts, mean ± S.E.M., n = 5-7), systemic treatment with SR140333 (120 nmol/kg, i.v.) significantly inhibited scratching (14 ± 3.5 vs. 3.1 ± 1.2 bouts, n = 4-6; P < 0.05). These results indicate that NK1 receptors are involved in mediating PNV-induced scratching and that the location of the receptors is unlikely to be skin. 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