Yan Wang1, Yanli Li1, Minyan Wang2. 1. Centre for Neuroscience, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, PR China. 2. Centre for Neuroscience, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, PR China; Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, PR China. Electronic address: minyan.wang@xjtlu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a transient propagating excitation of synaptic activity followed by depression, which is implicated in migraine with aura and is regarded as the underlying cause of migraine. Calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP) receptors play a crucial role in mediating the magnitude of CSD in rat cortical slice. This study aimed to examine whether CGRP receptors are involved in retinal spreading depression (RSD) in chicks. METHODS: Western blot was used for detection of calcitonin-receptor like receptor (CALCRL) and intrinsic optical imaging was used for pharmacological investigation. RESULTS: We found that the key component of CGRP receptor, CALCRL, is expressed in the chick retina. Using an in vitro migraine RSD model, we demonstrated that BIBN4096, a potent antagonist for CGRP receptors, markedly reduced the magnitude of RSD induced by K(+), but also the propagation rate. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that CGRP receptors mediate RSD propagation involving neuronal mechanism and approve that RSD is an efficient in vitro approach for assessing anti-migraine drugs targeting CGRP receptors.
BACKGROUND: Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a transient propagating excitation of synaptic activity followed by depression, which is implicated in migraine with aura and is regarded as the underlying cause of migraine. Calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP) receptors play a crucial role in mediating the magnitude of CSD in rat cortical slice. This study aimed to examine whether CGRP receptors are involved in retinal spreading depression (RSD) in chicks. METHODS: Western blot was used for detection of calcitonin-receptor like receptor (CALCRL) and intrinsic optical imaging was used for pharmacological investigation. RESULTS: We found that the key component of CGRP receptor, CALCRL, is expressed in the chick retina. Using an in vitro migraineRSD model, we demonstrated that BIBN4096, a potent antagonist for CGRP receptors, markedly reduced the magnitude of RSD induced by K(+), but also the propagation rate. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that CGRP receptors mediate RSD propagation involving neuronal mechanism and approve that RSD is an efficient in vitro approach for assessing anti-migraine drugs targeting CGRP receptors.