- Meeting abstract
- Open access
- Published:
EHMTI-0034. Pharmacological modulation of trigemino-nociceptive stimulation pd06
The Journal of Headache and Pain volume 15, Article number: A3 (2014)
Introduction/aims
Using functional resonance imaging (fMRI) with a standardized paradigm for trigemino-nociceptive stimulation [1], we explored the effect of sumatriptan on central pain processing structures compared to saline and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Given the mode of action of triptans [2–4], we hypothesized, that differences in BOLD activation between sumatriptan and saline/ASA would be revealed in the trigeminal nuclei.
Methods
We scanned 21 healthy volunteers for each group (sumatriptan, ASA) at two different time points (within-subject design). Differences in behavioural and imaging data between medication and saline conditions as well as between the medications were investigated. Using a general psychophysiological interaction analysis (gPPI), neuronal coupling between brain structures under saline compared to sumatriptan condition were explored.
This double-blind fMRI study was approved by the local Ethics Committee and all volunteers gave written informed consent prior to fMRI data acquisition.
Results
Mean pain intensity ratings did not differ between saline and sumatriptan/ASA conditions or between medications. Imaging data reveals increased activation of the trigeminal nuclei (T (18) = 3.59, p< 0.05 FWE corrected) after sumatriptan compared to saline. The same was also true for sumatriptan vs. ASA (T (31) = 2.8, p< 0.05, FWE corrected). The gPPI showed an increased coupling between the trigeminal nuclei and several cortical and subcortical pain related brain areas for the saline condition during painful stimulation.
Conclusion
The study reveals an increased activation within the trigeminal nuclei under sumatriptan treatment compared to saline. Furthermore, this effect is specific for triptans. As the coupling between the trigeminal nuclei and other pain related brain structures during sumatriptan treatment compared to saline is attenuated, we suggest a weakening effect of sumatriptan on functional brain connectivity during pain.
No conflict of interest.
References
Stankewitz A, Voit HL, Bingel U, Peschke C, May A: A new trigemino-nociceptive stimulation model for event-related fMRI. Cephalalgia 2010, 30: 475–485. doi:10.1111/j.1468–2982.2009.01968.x
Goadsby PJ, Hoskin KL: Inhibition of trigeminal neurons by intravenous administration of the serotonin (5HT)1B/D receptor agonist zolmitriptan (311C90): are brain stem sites therapeutic target in migraine? Pain 1996, 67: 355–359. doi:10.1016/0304–3959(96)03118–1 10.1016/0304-3959(96)03118-1
Goadsby PJ, Knight Y: Inhibition of trigeminal neurones after intravenous administration of naratriptan through an action at 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT(1B/1D)) receptors. Br J Pharmacol 1997, 122: 918–922. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0701456
Cumberbatch MJ, Hill RG, Hargreaves RJ: The effects of 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptor agonists on trigeminal nociceptive neurotransmission in anaesthetized rats. Eur J Pharmacol 1998, 362: 43–46. 10.1016/S0014-2999(98)00764-X
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits use, duplication, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
About this article
Cite this article
Kröger, I., May, A. EHMTI-0034. Pharmacological modulation of trigemino-nociceptive stimulation pd06. J Headache Pain 15 (Suppl 1), A3 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1129-2377-15-S1-A3
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1129-2377-15-S1-A3