Spontaneous and 5HT-induced cyclic contractions in superficial temporal arteries from chronic and episodic cluster headache patients.
Cephalalgia.
1994 Dec;14(6):419-29; discussion 393.
Mathiau P, Brochet B, Boulan P, Henry P, Aubineau P
CNRS UA 1489, Laboratoire de Physiopathologie et Pharmacologie Vasculaire, Bordeaux, France.
Superficial temporal arteries (STAs) are abnormally dilated in the
painful side during cluster headache (CH) attacks. We have assessed the
possible dysfunction of these arteries by comparing in vitro the
reactivity of STAs removed from the painful side of CH patients during
a cluster of attacks with that of STAs from patients free of CH. The
responses to KCl and norepinephrine (NE) of both types of arteries were
similar. Serotonin (5HT) induced a classical dose-dependent
constriction in arteries from non-CH patients, but systematically
triggered rhythmic contractions in arteries from episodic CH patients.
Arteries from chronic CH patients also showed spontaneous rhythmic
contractions. In both cases, this activity was stopped by calcitonin
gene-related peptide (CGRP) but, even in the presence of CGRP, it could
be restored by low concentrations of 5HT. Thus, 5HT, unlike NA, can
trigger rythmic activity in STAs of CH patients and may play a major
role in CH through abnormal smooth muscle cell reactivity.
PMID: 7697703Entrez PubMed
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