Response properties of trigeminal brain stem neurons with input from dura mater encephali in the rat.

The responsiveness of trigeminal brain stem neurons to selective local mechanical and chemical stimulation of the cranial dura mater was examined in a preparation in the rat. The dura mater encephali was exposed and its surface stimulated with electrical pulses through bipolar electrodes. Extracellular recordings were made from neurons in the subnucleus caudalis of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. Single neurons driven by meningeal input were identified by their responses to electrical stimulation and to probing their receptive fields on the dura. Facial receptive fields were defined mechanically. Chemical stimuli (a combination of inflammatory mediators, bradykinin, prostaglandin E2, serotonin, capsaicin and acidic Tyrode's solution) were applied topically to the dura and by injection through a catheter into the superior sagittal sinus. All neurons with input from the parietal dura mater had convergent input from the facial skin, with preponderance of the periorbital region. Proportions of units were activated by the combination of inflammatory mediators (55%), bradykinin (64.5%), acidic Tyrode's solution (64.1%) and capsaicin (78.6%). We conclude that, among the chemical mediators of inflammation, bradykinin and low pH are the most effective chemical stimuli in activating meningeal nociceptors. These stimuli may be important during meningeal inflammatory processes that lead to the generation of headaches.