Journal
CEPHALALGIA
Volume 24, Issue 6, Pages 439-445Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2004.00699.x
Keywords
nitroglycerin; nitric oxide synthase; caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus; sumatriptan; lysine acetylsalicylate
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Systemic administration of nitroglycerin (NTG), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, in migraineurs triggers after several hours an attack of which the precise mechanisms are unknown. We found previously in rats that nitroglycerin (10 mg/kg s.c.) is able to increase significantly after 4 h the number of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-immunoreactive neurones in the cervical part of trigeminal nucleus caudalis. In the present experiments, we demonstrate that the 5-HT1(B/D) agonist sumatriptan (0.6 mg/kg s.c.) does not alter this phenomenon when given before NTG. By contrast, pretreatment with lysine acetylsalicylate (50 mg/kg i.m.) attenuates the NTG-induced nNOS expression in the superficial laminae of trigeminal nucleus caudalis. These findings suggest that effect of NTG on nNOS at a high dosage may involve the cycloxygenase pathway and that activation of the peripheral 5-HT1(B/D) receptors is not able to modify this effect. These data could help to better understand the role of NO in the pathogenesis of headaches and the action of antimigraine drugs.
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