Topiramate inhibits trigeminovascular neurons in the cat.

To facilitate understanding the action of antimigraine preventives the effect of topiramate on trigeminocervical activation in the cat was examined. Animals (n = 7) were anaesthetized and physiologically monitored. The superior sagittal sinus (SSS) was stimulated to produce a model of trigeminovascular nociceptive activation. Cumulative dose-response curves were constructed for the effect of topiramate at doses of 3, 5, 10, 30 and 50 mg/kg on SSS-evoked firing of trigeminocervical neurons. Topiramate reduced SSS evoked firing in a dose-dependent fashion. The maximum effect was seen over 30 min for the cohort taken together. At 3 mg/kg firing was reduced by 36 +/- 13% (mean +/- SEM) after 15 min. At 5 and 50 mg/kg firing was reduced by 59 +/- 6% and 65 +/- 14%, respectively, after 30 min. Inhibition of the trigeminocervical complex directly, or neurons that modulate sensory input, are plausible mechanisms for the action of preventives in migraine.