5-HT7 receptors are involved in neurogenic dural vasodilatation in an experimental model of migraine.

Neurogenic dural vasodilation has been demonstrated to play an important role in migraine. 5-HT(7) receptors have been found on trigeminal nerve endings and middle meningeal arteries and demonstrated involved in the dilatation of meningeal arteries. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate whether 5-HT(7) receptors are involved in neurogenic dural vasodilation in migraine. The neurogenic dural vasodilation model of migraine was used in this study. Unilateral electrical stimulation of dura mater was performed in anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were pretreated with selective 5-HT(7) receptor agonist AS19, 5-HT(7) receptor antagonist SB269970, 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist sumatriptan, or vehicles. Blood flow of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) was measured by a laser Doppler flowmetry. AS19 significantly increased the basal and stimulated blood flows of the middle meningeal artery following electrical stimulation of dura mater, and its effect was dose dependent at the early stage. SB269970 and sumatriptan significantly reduced the basal and stimulated blood flows of middle meningeal artery. The present study demonstrates for the first time that 5-HT(7) receptors are involved in neurogenic dural vasodilation evoked by electrical stimulation of dura mater and maybe of relevance in the pathophysiology and treatment of migraine.