Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels during glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)-induced headache in healthy volunteers.

Abstract

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in migraine has been studied in the experimental glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)-infusion headache model. We hypothesized that GTN-induced headache may activate the trigeminovascular system and be associated with increased levels of sensory neuropeptides, including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and somatostatin plasma levels were measured before and after placebo/sumatriptan injection and during GTN-induced headache. Following a double-blind randomized cross-over design, 10 healthy volunteers received subcutaneous sumatriptan 6 mg or placebo. This was succeeded by 20 min of GTN (0.12 µg kg(-1) min(-1)) infusion. At baseline no subject reported headache (using verbal rating scale from 0 to 10) and the jugular CGRP-like immunoreactivity (-LI) level was 18.6 ± 2.5 pmol/l. After a 20-min intravenous infusion of GTN 0.12 µg kg(-1) min(-1), median peak headache intensity was 4 (range 2-6) (P < 0.05), while jugular CGRP-LI levels were unchanged (19.0 ± 2.8 pmol/l; P > 0.05). There were no changes in VIP-, NPY- or somatostatin-LI. In conclusion, the NO donor GTN appears not to induce headache via immediate CGRP release.

• Authors: C Kruuse, H K Iversen, I Jansen-Olesen, L Edvinsson, J Olesen
• Journal: Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache (Cephalalgia) Vol. 30 Issue 4 Pg. 467-74 (Apr 2010) ISSN: 1468-2982 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19673898 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Neuropeptide Y
• Nitric Oxide Donors
• Vasoconstrictor Agents
• Nitric Oxide
• Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
• Somatostatin
• Sumatriptan
• Nitroglycerin
• Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide

Topics

• Adult
• Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (blood)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Female
• Headache (chemically induced, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Humans
• Male
• Neuropeptide Y (blood)
• Nitric Oxide (blood)
• Nitric Oxide Donors (adverse effects)
• Nitroglycerin (adverse effects)
• Reference Values
• Somatostatin (blood)
• Sumatriptan (administration & dosage)
• Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (blood)
• Vasoconstrictor Agents (administration & dosage)