Fig. 1

Cross-talk between prolactin and CGRP to produce migraine-like pain selective to females. A Increased CGRP release can be observed following prolactin sensitization of nociceptors selectively in females. B Application of prolactin to the mouse dura mater produces headache-like pain behaviors in female, but not male, mice. Prolactin-induced migraine-like pain behavior in females is blocked by a CGRP receptor antagonist [46]. C Application of CGRP to the mouse dura mater produces female-selective headache-like pain behavior which is blocked by a prolactin receptor antagonist [46]. PRL may be an upstream mechanism for CGRP-related migraine-like pain selectively in females