Mast Cell Degranulation Mediates Compound 48/80-Induced Meningeal Vasodilatation Underlying Migraine Pain

Year 2018, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 196 - 201, 28.09.2018

Erkan Kilinc , Yasar Dagistan Fatma Tore

Abstract

Objective: The cranial dura mater contains plenty of mast cells and is principally

supplied by the middle meningeal artery which has a key role in the generation of

headaches. Neurogenic inflammation caused by perivascular nerve activation and

dural vasodilation is held responsible for migraine pain. Dural mast cells contribute

neurogenic inflammation and migraine via vasoactive and proinflammatory mediators

in their secretory granules. In the present study, it was aimed to investigate vasoactive

effect of mast cell degranulating agent compound 48/80 induced dural mast cell

degranulation on the middle meningeal artery and its anterior and posterior branches.

Methods: Isolated skulls obtained from male Wistar rats were divided into 2 halves.

The skull cavities with intact the dura mater were applied synthetic interstitial fluid

for control group or mast cell degranulating agent compound 48/80 (10 μg/ml) in

synthetic interstitial fluid for treated group at 37 oC for 15 min. Diameters of middle

meningeal artery and its anterior and posterior branches were measured and mast

cells were counted from whole-mount preparations of meningeal dura mater.

Results: While compound 48/80 induced massive degranulation of dural mast cells

(P<0.01), it did not change the number of mast cells in the dura mater. Moreover,

compound 48/80 increased diameter of middle meningeal artery (P<0.01) and

its anterior (P<0.05) and posterior (P<0.01) branches, respectively compared to

synthetic interstitial fluid treatment.

Conclusion: Dural mast cell degranulation causes dilatation of middle meningeal

artery which is involved in the pathophysiology of migraine, therefore testing of mast

cell stabilizing agents in vivo models of migraine pain may promise hope for the next

big things in the treatment of migraine headaches.

Keywords

Migraine, meningeal artery, dural mast cell, neurogenic inflammation

References

• Moskowitz MA. The visceral organ brain Implications for the pathophysiology of vascular head pain. Neurology 1991; 41: 182-86.