Effect of cortical spreading depression on basal and evoked traffic in the trigeminovascular sensory system

Intra-arterial lidocaine administration of lidocaine in middle meningeal artery for short-term treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage-related headaches

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We report short- and intermediate-term effects on headaches with intra-arterial injection of lidocaine in the middle meningeal artery in patients with severe headaches associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

METHODS

We treated seven patients with intra-arterial lidocaine in doses up to 50 mg in each middle meningeal artery via a microcatheter bilaterally (except in one patient). We recorded the maximum intensity of headache (graded by 11-point numeric rating scale) prior to procedure and every day for the next 10 days or discharge, whichever came first. We identified changes in the middle meningeal artery pre- and post-intra-arterial lidocaine administration and quantified from Grade 0 (no change) to Grade 5 (severe narrowing or near occlusion of anterior and posterior dural branches or proximal middle meningeal artery that precludes adequate imaging of distal branches).

RESULTS

We observed improvement in severity of headaches of headache in all seven subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. The resolution of headache was immediate and complete in four patients, unilateral immediate resolution in one patient, and delayed complete resolution in patient. Two patients met the definition of severe headache (defined as 2 or more days with maximum pain scores of 8 or greater or need for 3 or more different analgesics for 2 or more days) post-lidocaine treatment. One of these patients had are lapse in headache with the severity matching pretreatment severity and required a second treatment. On analysis of angiographic data, there was consistent narrowing of middle meningeal arteries after administration of intra-arterial lidocaine and was graded as 5 in 2 arteries, 4 in 10 arteries, and 3 in 2 arteries.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that intra-arterial injection of lidocaine can result in consistent amelioration of headache in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The therapeutic benefit may be related to vasoconstriction (reversal of vasodilation) in the middle meningeal arteries after administration of lidocaine.

Sex differences in photophobic behaviors following cortical spreading depression in rats

PURPOSE

Photophobia is a common and debilitating symptom associated with migraine. Women are disproportionately affected by migraines, with a higher prevalence and more severe symptoms compared to men. This study investigated the effects of cortical spreading depression on light-aversive and dark-seeking behaviors in a rat model, with an emphasis on sex differences.

METHOD

Experiments were conducted on seven to eight-week-old male and female Sprague Dawley rats. cortical spreading depression was modeled by injections of potassium chloride or artificial cerebrospinal fluid into the occipital cortex through a guide cannula. Key behavioral assessments included light-aversive and dark-seeking behaviors measured using a three-chamber box, pupil to iris ratio, periorbital tightening, periorbital allodynia and facial withdrawal thresholds.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that cortical potassium chloride injections significantly increased photophobic behaviors, particularly in female rats. Specifically, potassium chloride-injected females demonstrated a significant reduction in the time spent in the light chamber (p = 0.001) and increased time in the dark chamber compared to control rats (p = 0.01), indicating heightened light-aversion. Females exhibited more substantial pupil constriction and eyelid closure at 180 min after potassium chloride injection compared to artificial cerebrospinal fluid injection, suggesting a stronger physiological response to light. Similarly, a greater percent of female rats displayed periorbital allodynia (withdrawal threshold <6 g) over a post injection time course compared to male rats. Among rats that exhibited periorbital allodynia at least two consecutive time points, females had significantly lower facial withdrawal thresholds than males at 60-, 90-, 120-, and 180-min post injection (p < 0.05), suggesting a difference in magnitude and duration. Furthermore, the area under the curve for the time course experiment indicated development of tactile allodynia in periorbital region among female rats (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Altogether these findings highlight the importance of considering sex-specific differences in developing therapeutic strategies for the treatment of migraine. We report for the first time a complete time course analysis of migraine-related responses, providing a comprehensive overview of the dynamics involved. The results suggest that potassium chloride-induced cortical spreading depression may offer a valuable model for studying the underlying mechanisms and sex differences of photophobia in migraine, aiding in the development of targeted treatments.

Effects of somatostatin, a somatostatin agonist, and an antagonist, on a putative migraine trigger pathway

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether somatostatin (SST) could be a cortico-brainstem neurotransmitter involved in producing the headache of migraine.

BACKGROUND

There is evidence to support the idea that a cortico-brainstem-trigeminal nucleus neuraxis might be responsible for producing migraine headache; we have suggested that SST may be one of the neurotransmitters involved.

METHODS

Rats were anesthetised and prepared for recording neurons in either the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) or nucleus raphe magnus (NRM), as well as the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC). The dura mater and facial skin were stimulated electrically or mechanically. SST, the SST agonist L054264 and the SST antagonist CYN54806 were injected intravenously, by microinjection, or by iontophoresis into the PAG or NRM. Cortical neuronal activity was provoked by cortical spreading depression (CSD) or light flash (LF) and was monitored by recording cortical blood flow (CBF).

RESULTS

Intravenous injection of SST: (a) selectively decreased the responses of TNC neurons to stimulation of the dura, but not skin, for up to 5 h; (b) decreased the ongoing discharge rate of TNC neurons while simultaneously increasing the discharge rate of neurons in either brainstem nucleus and; (c) prevented, or reversed, the effect of CSD and LF on brainstem and trigeminal neuron discharge rates. CSD and LF decreased the discharge rate of neurons in both brainstem nuclei and increased the discharge rate of TNC neurons. These effects were reversed by L054264 and mimicked by CYN54806. Injections of L054264 into the PAG or NRM reduced the response of TNC neurons to dural stimulation and skin stimulation differentially, depending on the nucleus injected. Injections of CYN54806 into either brainstem nucleus potentiated the responses of TNC neurons to dural and skin stimulation, but without a marked differential effect.

CONCLUSIONS

These results imply that SST could be a neurotransmitter in a pathway responsible for migraine pain.

Secondary Trigger Point Deactivation Surgery for Nerve Compression Headaches: A Scoping Review

Background

Primary trigger point deactivation surgery has been successful in reducing or eliminating nerve compression headaches between 79% and 90% of the time. The aim of this review article was to discuss the factors that contribute to index trigger point deactivation surgery failure, the importance of reevaluating trigger points following failure, and the options for secondary surgery.

Methods

A literature search was performed using a combination of keywords involving "chronic headache" and "nerve deactivation surgery," in databases until February 2023.

Results

Data of 1071 patients were evaluated and included (11 articles). The failure rate after index trigger point deactivation surgery occurs is approximately 12%, primarily due to incomplete primary trigger point deactivation. Secondary trigger points may not appear until the primary trigger is eliminated, which occurs in 17.8% of patients. Reevaluation of previously diagnosed trigger points as well as uncovered trigger points and additional preoperative testing is indicated to help determine candidacy for further surgical deactivation. To address scarring that could contribute to failure, corticosteroid injection, acellular dermal matrix, adipofascial fat, or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sleeves have been described with beneficial effects. For neuroma management, regenerative peripheral nerve interface, targeted muscle reinnervation, a combination of both, relocation nerve grafting, or nerve capping have also been described. Neurectomy can be performed when patients prefer anesthesia and/or paresthesia over current pain symptoms.

Conclusion

Secondary trigger point deactivation surgery is indicated when there is suspicion of incomplete deactivation, internal scarring, neuroma, or newly-diagnosed trigger points.

Preclinical Studies of Posttraumatic Headache and the Potential Therapeutics

Posttraumatic headache (PTH) attributed to traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a secondary headache developed within 7 days after head injury, and in a substantial number of patients PTH becomes chronic and lasts for more than 3 months. Current medications are almost entirely relied on the treatment of primary headache such as migraine, due to its migraine-like phenotype and the limited understanding on the PTH pathogenic mechanisms. To this end, increasing preclinical studies have been conducted in the last decade. We focus in this review on the trigeminovascular system from the animal studies since it provides the primary nociceptive sensory afferents innervating the head and face region, and the pathological changes in the trigeminal pathway are thought to play a key role in the development of PTH. In addition to the pathologies, PTH-like behaviors induced by TBI and further exacerbated by nitroglycerin, a general headache inducer through vasodilation are reviewed. We will overview the current pharmacotherapies including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibody and sumatriptan in the PTH animal models. Given that modulation of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system has been well-documented in the treatment of migraine and TBI, the therapeutic potential of eCB in PTH will also be discussed.

Cortical pain induced by optogenetic cortical spreading depression: from whole brain activity mapping

BACKGROUND

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is an electrophysiological event underlying migraine aura. Traditional CSD models are invasive and often cause injuries. The aim of the study was to establish a minimally invasive optogenetic CSD model and identify the active networks after CSD using whole-brain activity mapping.

METHODS

CSD was induced in mice by light illumination, and their periorbital thresholds and behaviours in the open field, elevated plus-maze and light-aversion were recorded. Using c-fos, we mapped the brain activity after CSD. The whole brain was imaged, reconstructed and analyzed using the Volumetric Imaging with Synchronized on-the-fly-scan and Readout technique. To ensure the accuracy of the results, the immunofluorescence staining method was used to verify the imaging results.

RESULTS

The optogenetic CSD model showed significantly decreased periorbital thresholds, increased facial grooming and freezing behaviours and prominent light-aversion behaviours. Brain activity mapping revealed that the somatosensory, primary sensory, olfactory, basal ganglia and default mode networks were activated. However, the thalamus and trigeminal nucleus caudalis were not activated.

CONCLUSIONS

Optogenetic CSD model could mimic the behaviours of headache and photophobia. Moreover, the optogenetic CSD could activate multiple sensory cortical regions without the thalamus or trigeminal nucleus caudalis to induce cortical pain.

The putative role of trigemino-vascular system in brain perfusion homeostasis and the significance of the migraine attack

Besides representing the place where a migraine attack generates, what is the physiological role of peptidergic control of arteriolar caliber within the trigemino-vascular system? Considering that the shared goal of most human CGRP-based neurosensory systems is the protection from an acute threat, especially if hypoxic, what is the end meaning of a migraine attack? In this paper, we have reviewed available evidence on the possible role of the trigemino-vascular system in maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure homeostasis, despite the large physiological fluctuations in intracranial pressure occurring in daily life activities. In this perspective, the migraine attack is presented as the response to a cerebral hypoxic threat consequent to a deranged intracranial pressure control aimed at generating a temporary withdrawal from the environment with limitation of physical activity, a condition required to promote the restoration of cerebral fluids dynamic balance.

KCl-induced repetitive cortical spreading depression inhibiting trigeminal neuronal firing is mediated by 5-HT1B/1D and opioid receptors

Background

We aimed to examine the effects of repetitive cortical spreading depression on the responses of nociceptive trigeminal neurons with dural afferents and characterize the role of 5-HT_1B/1D and opioid receptors.

Methods

Trigeminocervical complex neurons (n = 53) responsive to nociceptive activation of the dura mater were studied in rats using electrophysiological techniques.

Results

A sub-population (n = 32) showed an average inhibition of dural-evoked responses of 65 ± 14% from baseline with cortical spreading depression. This response was reversed by the selective 5-HT_1B/1D receptor antagonist, GR127935 (3 mg/kg; n = 6, iv), and a non-selective opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone (1.5 mg/kg; n = 6, iv), five minutes after injection. To determine the role of the nucleus raphe magnus in the trigeminocervical complex inhibitory effect, microinjection of lidocaine (2%, n = 6) or muscimol (100 mM, n = 5) into the nucleus raphe magnus was performed. There was no effect on cortical spreading depression-induced inhibition of neuronal firing in trigeminocervical complex by either.

Conclusion

The data demonstrate that repetitive cortical spreading depression inhibits a subpopulation of dural nociceptive trigeminocervical neurons, an effect mediated by serotonin and opioid receptors. This inhibition does not involve modulation of nucleus raphe magnus neurons.

Photophobia in headache disorders: characteristics and potential mechanisms

Photophobia is present in multiple types of headache disorders. The coexistence of photophobia and headache suggested the potential reciprocal interactions between visual and pain pathways. In this review, we summarized the photophobic characteristics in different types of headache disorders in the context of the three diagnostic categories of headache disorders: (1) primary headaches: migraine, tension-type headache, and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias; (2) secondary headaches: headaches attributed to traumatic brain injury, meningitis, non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and disorder of the eyes; (3) painful cranial neuropathies: trigeminal neuralgia and painful optic neuritis. We then discussed potential mechanisms for the coexistence of photophobia and headache. In conclusion, the characteristics of photophobia are different among these headache disorders. The coexistence of photophobia and headache is associated with the interactions between visual and pain pathway at retina, midbrain, thalamus, hypothalamus and visual cortex. The communication between these pathways may depend on calcitonin gene-related peptide and pituitary cyclase-activating polypeptide transmission. Moreover, cortical spreading depression, an upstream trigger of headache, also plays an important role in photophobia by increased nociceptive input to the thalamus.

5-hydroxytryptamine in migraine: The puzzling role of ionotropic 5-HT3 receptor in the context of established therapeutic effect of metabotropic 5-HT1 subtypes

5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) is traditionally considered as a key mediator implicated in migraine. Multiple 5-HT receptor subtypes contribute to a variety of region-specific functional effects. The raphé nuclei control nociceptive inputs by releasing 5-HT in the brainstem, whereas dural mast cells provide the humoral source of 5-HT in the meninges. Triptans (5-HT_1B/D agonists) and ditans (5-HT_1F agonists) are the best established 5-HT anti-migraine agents. However, activation of meningeal afferents via ionotropic 5-HT₃ receptors results in long-lasting excitatory drive suggesting a pro-nociceptive role for these receptors in migraine. Nevertheless, clinical data do not clearly support the applicability of currently available 5-HT₃ antagonists to migraine treatment. The reasons for this might be the presence of 5-HT₃ receptors on inhibitory interneurons dampening the excitatory drive, a lack of 5-HT₃ A-E subunit-selective antagonists and gender/age-dependent effects. This review is focusing on the controversial role of 5-HT₃ receptors in migraine pathology and related pharmacological perspectives of 5-HT ligands.

Chronic Migraine Pathophysiology and Treatment: A Review of Current Perspectives

Chronic migraine is a disabling neurological disorder that imposes a considerable burden on individual and socioeconomic outcomes. Chronic migraine is defined as headaches occurring on at least 15 days per month with at least eight of these fulfilling the criteria for migraine. Chronic migraine typically evolves from episodic migraine as a result of increasing attack frequency and/or several other risk factors that have been implicated with migraine chronification. Despite this evolution, chronic migraine likely develops into its own distinct clinical entity, with unique features and pathophysiology separating it from episodic migraine. Furthermore, chronic migraine is characterized with higher disability and incidence of comorbidities in comparison to episodic migraine. While existing migraine studies primarily focus on episodic migraine, less is known about chronic migraine pathophysiology. Mounting evidence on aberrant alterations suggest that pronounced functional and structural brain changes, central sensitization and neuroinflammation may underlie chronic migraine mechanisms. Current treatment options for chronic migraine include risk factor modification, acute and prophylactic therapies, evidence-based treatments such as onabotulinumtoxinA, topiramate and newly approved calcitonin gene-related peptide or receptor targeted monoclonal antibodies. Unfortunately, treatments are still predominantly ineffective in aborting migraine attacks and decreasing intensity and frequency, and poor adherence and compliance with preventative medications remains a significant challenge. Novel emerging chronic migraine treatments such as neuromodulation offer promising therapeutic approaches that warrant further investigation. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an update of current knowledge and perspectives regarding chronic migraine background, pathophysiology, current and emerging treatment options with the intention of facilitating future research into this debilitating and largely indeterminant disorder.

Intra-arterial injection of lidocaine into middle meningeal artery to treat intractable headaches and severe migraine

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We report the results of intra-arterial injection of lidocaine in the middle meningeal artery in patients with intractable headache or status migrainosus.

METHODS

We treated four patients with intra-arterial lidocaine (2 mg/ml) in doses up to 50 mg in each middle meningeal artery via a microcatheter bilaterally (except in one patient). In two patients with intractable headache, the daily maximum intensity of headache (graded by 11-point numeric rating scale) was recorded for 7 days postprocedure. In two patients with status migrainosus, migraine-related disability 3 months prior and after treatment using MIDAS (Migraine Disability Assessment) questionnaire was recorded.

RESULTS

Intra-arterial lidocaine reduced the headache intensity from 8/10 and 10/10 to 0/10 in the two patients with intractable headaches for 2 days (day 0 and day 1) postprocedure. Despite recurrence of headache on day 2, the intensity was less than preprocedure intensity up to the last day recorded (by 3 and 2 points on day 7). In the two patients with status migrainosus, there was immediate reduction in headache intensity following intra-arterial lidocaine. The post treatment 3-month MIDAS score was lower in both patients compared with pretreatment 3-month score; 3 versus 30 and 55 versus 90. Severe disability preprocedure by MIDAS was reduced to little or no disability postprocedure in one patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Intra-arterial lidocaine resulted in amelioration of headache in patients with intractable headache and those with status migrainosus with improvement lasting longer than the short half-life of lidocaine possibly related to central desensitization.

Updated review on the link between cortical spreading depression and headache disorders

INTRODUCTION

Experimental animal studies have revealed mechanisms that link cortical spreading depression (CSD) to the trigeminal activation mediating lateralized headache. However, conventional CSD as seen in lissencephalic brain is insufficient to explain some clinical features of aura and migraine headache.

AREAS COVERED

The importance of CSD in headache development including dysfunction of the thalamocortical network, neuroinflammation, calcitonin gene-related peptide, transgenic models, and the role of CSD in migraine triggers, treatment options, neuromodulation and future directions are reviewed.

EXPERT OPINION

The conventional understanding of CSD marching across the hemisphere is invalid in gyrencephalic brains. Thalamocortical dysfunction and interruption of functional cortical network systems by CSD, may provide alternative explanations for clinical manifestations of migraine phases including aura. Not all drugs showing CSD blocking properties in lissencephalic brains, have efficacy in migraine headache and monoclonal antibodies against CGRP ligand/receptors which are effective in migraine treatment, have no impact on aura in humans or CSD properties in rodents. Functional networks and molecular mechanisms mediating and amplifying the effects of limited CSD in migraine brain remain to be investigated to define new targets.

An underrepresented majority: A systematic review utilizing allodynic criteria to examine the present scarcity of discrete animal models for episodic migraine

BACKGROUND

Despite increasing evidence differentiating episodic and chronic migraine, little work has determined how currently utilized animal models of migraine best represent each distinct disease state.

AIM

In this review, we seek to characterize accepted preclinical models of migraine-like headache by their ability to recapitulate the clinical allodynic features of either episodic or chronic migraine.

METHODS

From a search of the Pu bMed database for "animal models of migraine", "headache models" and "preclinical migraine", we identified approximately 80 recent (within the past 20 years) publications that utilized one of 10 different models for migraine research. Models reviewed fit into one of the following categories: Dural KCl application, direct electrical stimulation, nitroglycerin administration, inflammatory soup injection, CGRP injection, medication overuse, monogenic animals, post-traumatic headache, specific channel activation, and hormone manipulation. Recapitulation of clinical features including cephalic and extracephalic hypersensitivity were evaluated for each and compared.

DISCUSSION

Episodic migraineurs comprise over half of the migraine population, yet the vast majority of current animal models of migraine appear to best represent chronic migraine states. While some of these models can be modified to reflect episodic migraine, there remains a need for non-invasive, validated models of episodic migraine to enhance the clinical translation of migraine research.

Cortical Mechanisms of Single-Pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Migraine

Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (sTMS) of the occipital cortex is an effective migraine treatment. However, its mechanism of action and cortical effects of sTMS in migraine are yet to be elucidated. Using calcium imaging and GCaMP-expressing mice, sTMS did not depolarise neurons and had no effect on vascular tone. Pre-treatment with sTMS, however, significantly affected some characteristics of the cortical spreading depression (CSD) wave, the correlate of migraine aura. sTMS inhibited spontaneous neuronal firing in the visual cortex in a dose-dependent manner and attenuated L-glutamate-evoked firing, but not in the presence of GABAA/B antagonists. In the CSD model, sTMS increased the CSD electrical threshold, but not in the presence of GABAA/B antagonists. We first report here that sTMS at intensities similar to those used in the treatment of migraine, unlike traditional sTMS applied in other neurological fields, does not excite cortical neurons but it reduces spontaneous cortical neuronal activity and suppresses the migraine aura biological substrate, potentially by interacting with GABAergic circuits.

A potential role for two brainstem nuclei in craniovascular nociception and the triggering of migraine headache

AIM

To use an animal model of migraine to test whether migraine headache might arise from a brainstem-trigeminal nucleus pathway.

METHODS

We measured evoked and spontaneous activity of second-order trigeminovascular neurons in rats to test whether the activity of these neurons increased following the induction of cortical spreading depression or the imposition of light flash - two potential migraine triggers, or headache provokers. We then tested whether drugs that could activate, or inactivate, neurons of the nucleus raphe magnus or the periaqueductal gray matter, would affect any such increases selectively for the dura mater.

RESULTS

Injection of sodium glutamate (a neuronal excitant) into these two nuclei selectively inhibited the responses of trigeminovascular second-order neurons to dura mater, but not to facial skin, stimulation. Injection of lignocaine (a local anaesthetic) into these nuclei selectively potentiated the responses of these neurons to dura, but not to facial skin, stimulation. Furthermore, injections into either nucleus of glutamate inhibited the increase in the ongoing discharge rate of these neurons produced by cortical spreading depression and light flash.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide indirect evidence that trigeminovascular nociception may be tightly controlled by these two nuclei, whereas cutaneous trigeminal sensation may be less so. These nuclei may be relays of one possible brainstem-trigeminal pathway that could mediate migraine headache. Modification of neuronal activity in these two nuclei produced by migraine (headache) triggers may lie behind the pain of a migraine attack, at least in some cases.

Biochemical Modulation and Pathophysiology of Migraine

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a common disabling neurological disorder where attacks have been recognized to consist of more than headache. The premonitory, headache, and postdromal phases are the various phases of the migraine cycle, where aura can occur before, during, or after the onset of pain. Migraine is also associated with photosensitivity and cranial autonomic symptoms, which includes lacrimation, conjunctival injection, periorbital edema, ptosis, nasal congestion, and rhinorrhoea. This review will present the current understanding of migraine pathophysiology and the relationship to the observed symptoms.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

The literature was reviewed with specific focus on clinical, neurophysiological, functional imaging, and preclinical studies in migraine including the studies on the role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP).

RESULTS

The phases of the migraine cycle have been delineated by several studies. The observations of clinical symptoms help develop hypotheses of the key structures involved and the biochemical and neuronal pathways through which the effects are mediated. Preclinical studies and functional imaging studies have provided evidence for the role of multiple cortical areas, the diencephalon, especially the hypothalamus, and certain brainstem nuclei in the modulation of nociceptive processing, symptoms of the premonitory phase, aura, and photophobia. CGRP and PACAP have been found to be involved in nociceptive modulation and through exploration of CGRP mechanisms, new successful treatments have been developed.

CONCLUSIONS

Migraine is a complex neural disorder and is important to understand when seeing patients who present to neuro-ophthalmology, especially with the successful translation from preclinical and clinical research leading to successful advances in migraine management.

The Migraine Aura

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article discusses the basic mechanisms of migraine aura and its clinical significance based upon evidence from human studies and animal models.

RECENT FINDINGS

Prospective clinical studies have reinforced the understanding that migraine aura is highly variable from one individual to the next as well as from attack to attack in an individual. While migraine with aura clearly has a higher heritability than migraine without aura, population studies have not identified specific genes that underlie this heritability for typical migraine with aura. Imaging studies reveal hypoperfusion associated with migraine aura, although the timing and distribution of this hypoperfusion is not strictly correlated with migraine symptoms. Mapping of migraine visual aura symptoms onto the visual cortex suggests that the mechanisms underlying the aura propagate in a linear fashion along gyri or sulci rather than as a concentric wave and also suggests that aura may propagate in the absence of clinical symptoms. Cortical spreading depression in animal models continues to be a translational model for migraine, and the study of spreading depolarizations in the injured human brain has provided new insight into potential mechanisms of cortical spreading depression in migraine. Migraine with aura has multiple comorbidities including patent foramen ovale, stroke, and psychiatric disorders; the shared mechanisms underlying these comorbidities remains a topic of active investigation.

SUMMARY

Although it occurs in the minority of patients with migraine, aura may have much to teach us about basic mechanisms of migraine. In addition, its occurrence may influence clinical management regarding comorbid conditions and acute and preventive therapy.

Aura and Head pain: relationship and gaps in the translational models

Migraine is a complex brain disorder and initiating events for acute attacks still remain unclear. It seems difficult to explain the development of migraine headache with one mechanism and/or a single anatomical location. Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is recognized as the biological substrate of migraine aura and experimental animal studies have provided mechanisms that possibly link CSD to the activation of trigeminal neurons mediating lateralized head pain. However, some CSD features do not match the clinical features of migraine headache and there are gaps in translating CSD to migraine with aura. Clinical features of migraine headache and results from research are critically evaluated; and consistent and inconsistent findings are discussed according to the known basic features of canonical CSD: typical SD limited to the cerebral cortex as it was originally defined. Alternatively, arguments related to the emergence of SD in other brain structures in addition to the cerebral cortex or CSD initiated dysfunction in the thalamocortical network are proposed. Accordingly, including thalamus, particularly reticular nucleus and higher order thalamic nuclei, which functions as a hub connecting the visual, somatosensory, language and motor cortical areas and subjects to modulation by brain stem projections into the CSD theory, would greatly improve our current understanding of migraine.

Clinical neurophysiology of migraine with aura

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the findings of clinical electrophysiology studies aimed to investigate changes in information processing of migraine with aura patients.

MAIN BODY

Abnormalities in alpha rhythm power and symmetry, the presence of slowing, and increased information flow in a wide range of frequency bands often characterize the spontaneous EEG activity of MA. Higher grand-average cortical response amplitudes, an increased interhemispheric response asymmetry, and lack of amplitude habituation were less consistently demonstrated in response to any kind of sensory stimulation in MA patients. Studies with single-pulse and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have reported abnormal cortical responsivity manifesting as greater motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, lower threshold for phosphenes production, and paradoxical effects in response to both depressing or enhancing repetitive TMS methodologies. Studies of the trigeminal system in MA are sparse and the few available showed lack of blink reflex habituation and abnormal findings on SFEMG reflecting subclinical, probably inherited, dysfunctions of neuromuscular transmission. The limited studies that were able to investigate patients during the aura revealed suppression of evoked potentials, desynchronization in extrastriate areas and in the temporal lobe, and large variations in direct current potentials with magnetoelectroencephalography. Contrary to what has been observed in the most common forms of migraine, patients with familial hemiplegic migraine show greater habituation in response to visual and trigeminal stimuli, as well as a higher motor threshold and a lower MEP amplitude than healthy subjects.

CONCLUSION

Since most of the electrophysiological abnormalities mentioned above were more frequently present and had a greater amplitude in migraine with aura than in migraine without aura, neurophysiological techniques have been shown to be of great help in the search for the pathophysiological basis of migraine aura.

Pain Perception and Migraine

Background: It is well-known that both inter- and intra-individual differences exist in the perception of pain; this is especially true in migraine, an elusive pain disorder of the head. Although electrophysiology and neuroimaging techniques have greatly contributed to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in migraine during recent decades, the exact characteristics of pain threshold and pain intensity perception remain to be determined, and continue to be a matter of debate.

Objective: The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of clinical, electrophysiological, and functional neuroimaging studies investigating changes during various phases of the so-called “migraine cycle” and in different migraine phenotypes, using pain threshold and pain intensity perception assessments.

Methods: A systematic search for qualitative studies was conducted using search terms “migraine,” “pain,” “headache,” “temporal summation,” “quantitative sensory testing,” and “threshold,” alone and in combination (subject headings and keywords). The literature search was updated using the additional keywords “pain intensity,” and “neuroimaging” to identify full-text papers written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals, using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. In addition, we manually searched the reference lists of all research articles and review articles.

Conclusion: Consistent data indicate that pain threshold is lower during the ictal phase than during the interictal phase of migraine or healthy controls in response to pressure, cold and heat stimuli. There is evidence for preictal sub-allodynia, whereas interictal results are conflicting due to either reduced or no observed difference in pain threshold. On the other hand, despite methodological limitations, converging observations support the concept that migraine attacks may be characterized by an increased pain intensity perception, which normalizes between episodes. Nevertheless, future studies are required to longitudinally evaluate a large group of patients before and after pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to investigate phases of the migraine cycle, clinical parameters of disease severity and chronic medication usage.

Gray matter volume modifications in migraine

Objective

To explore cross-sectional and longitudinal gray matter (GM) volume changes in patients with migraine and their association with patients' clinical characteristics and disease activity.

Methods

Brain T2-weighted and 3-dimensional T1-weighted scans were acquired from 73 episodic migraineurs and 46 age- and sex-matched nonmigraine controls at baseline. Twenty-four migraineurs and 25 controls agreed to be reexamined after a mean follow-up of 4 years. Using a general linear model and SPM12, a whole-brain analysis was performed to assess GM volume modifications.

Results

At baseline, compared to controls, patients with migraine showed lower cerebellar GM volume and higher volume of regions of the frontotemporal lobes. At follow-up, migraineurs were significantly older than controls. Over the follow-up, migraineurs developed an increased volume of frontotemporoparietal regions, which was more prominent in patients with a higher baseline disease activity: long disease duration and high attack frequency. Migraineurs also developed decreased GM volume of visual areas, which was related to higher pain severity. Patients with an increased attack frequency at follow-up experienced both increased and decreased volume of nociceptive regions. In migraineurs, reduced GM volume of extrastriate visual areas during the follow-up was significantly correlated to baseline disease activity: shorter disease duration and lower attack frequency.

Conclusion

In this cohort, the migraine brain changes dynamically over time, and different pathophysiologic mechanisms can occur in response to patients' disease severity. The interaction between predisposing brain traits and experience-dependent responses might vary across different nociceptive and visual areas, thus leading to distinct patterns of longitudinal GM volume changes.

Deep in the brain: Changes in subcortical function immediately preceding a migraine attack

The neural mechanism responsible for migraine remains unclear. While the role of an external trigger in migraine initiation remains vigorously debated, it is generally assumed that migraineurs display altered brain function between attacks. This idea stems from relatively few brain imaging studies with even fewer studies exploring changes in the 24 h period immediately prior to a migraine attack. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured infra-slow oscillatory activity, regional homogeneity, and connectivity strengths of resting activity in migraineurs directly before (n = 8), after (n = 11), and between migraine attacks (n = 26) and in healthy control subjects (n = 78). Comparisons between controls and each migraine group and between migraine groups were made for each of these measures. Directly prior to a migraine, increased infra-slow oscillatory activity occurred in brainstem and hypothalamic regions that also display altered activity during a migraine itself, that is, the spinal trigeminal nucleus, dorsal pons, and hypothalamus. Furthermore, these midbrain and hypothalamic sites displayed increased connectivity strengths and regional homogeneity directly prior to a migraine. Remarkably, these resting oscillatory and connectivity changes did not occur directly after or between migraine attacks and were significantly different to control subjects. These data provide evidence of altered brainstem and hypothalamic function in the period immediately before a migraine and raise the prospect that such changes contribute to the expression of a migraine attack.

Does somatostatin have a role to play in migraine headache?

Migraine is a condition without apparent pathology. Its cardinal symptom is the prolonged excruciating headache. Theories about this pain have posited pathologies which run the gamut from neural to vascular to neurovascular, but no observations have detected a plausible pathology. We believe that no pathology can be found for migraine headache because none exists. Migraine is not driven by pathology - it is driven by neural events produced by triggers - or simply by neural noise- noise that has crossed a critical threshold. If these ideas are true, how does the pain arise? We hypothesise that migraine headache is a consequence of withdrawal of descending pain control, produced by "noise" in the cerebral cortex. Nevertheless, there has to be a neural circuit to transform cortical noise to withdrawal of pain control. In our hypothesis, this neural circuit extends from the cortex, synapses in two brainstem nuclei (the periaqueductal gray matter and the raphe magnus nucleus) and ultimately reaches the first synapse of the trigeminal sensory system. The second stage of this circuit uses serotonin (5HT) as a neurotransmitter, but the neuronal projection from the cortex to the brainstem seems to involve relatively uncommon neurotransmitters. We believe that one of these is somatostatin (SST). Temporal changes in levels of circulating SST mirror the temporal changes in the incidence of migraine, particularly in women. The SST₂ receptor agonist octreotide has been used with some success in migraine and cluster headache. A cortical to PAG/NRM neural projection certainly exists and we briefly review the anatomical and neurophysiological evidence for it and provide preliminary evidence that SST may the critical neurotransmitter in this pathway. We therefore suggest that the withdrawal of descending tone in SST-containing neurons, might create a false pain signal and hence the headache of migraine.

Migraine

Migraine is a chronic paroxysmal neurological disorder characterised by multiphase attacks of head pain and a myriad of neurological symptoms. The underlying genetic and biological underpinnings and neural networks involved are coming sharply into focus. This progress in the fundamental understanding of migraine has led to novel, mechanism-based and disease-specific therapeutics. In this Seminar, the clinical features and neurobiology of migraine are reviewed, evidence to support available treatment options is provided, and emerging drug, device, and biological therapies are discussed.

Trigeminal long-term potentiation as a cellular substrate for migraine

Most previous studies suggest that the subnucleus caudalis (Vc) of spinal trigeminal nucleus (Vsp) plays a key role in the generation and maintenance of migraine, a type of primary headache, by participating in the trigeminovascular system. Furthermore, the excitability of the Vc with the stimulation of the peripheral nociceptive fibers innervating the intracranial vessels or dura matter is regarded as a main cellular substrate for migraine. Here, a revised hypothesis is introduced, reinforcing the previous hypothesis and complementing it. This hypothesis suggests that, besides the Vc, much broader areas of the trigeminal sensory nuclei (Vsn), i.e., the principal sensory nucleus (Vp), the oralis nucleus (Vo), and the interpolaris nucleus (Vi), contribute to process and integrate pain signals generated in the head. In addition, the plasticity of synaptic transmission between nuclei or subnuclei in the Vsn, in particular, the Vsp, can be a cellular model for migraine, in the same way as the hippocampal synaptic plasticity is a model for learning and memory. This hypothesis will contribute to the discovery of new therapeutic tools for patients with migraine.

Current and novel insights into the neurophysiology of migraine and its implications for therapeutics

Migraine headache and its associated symptoms have plagued humans for two millennia. It is manifest throughout the world, and affects more than 1/6 of the global population. It is the most common brain disorder, and is characterized by moderate to severe unilateral headache that is accompanied by vomiting, nausea, photophobia, phonophobia, and other hypersensitive symptoms of the senses. While there is still a clear lack of understanding of its neurophysiology, it is beginning to be understood, and it seems to suggest migraine is a disorder of brain sensory processing, characterized by a generalized neuronal hyperexcitability. The complex symptomatology of migraine indicates that multiple neuronal systems are involved, including brainstem and diencephalic systems, which function abnormally, resulting in premonitory symptoms, ultimately evolving to affect the dural trigeminovascular system, and the pain phase of migraine. The migraineur also seems to be particularly sensitive to fluctuations in homeostasis, such as sleep, feeding and stress, reflecting the abnormality of functioning in these brainstem and diencephalic systems. Implications for therapeutic development have grown out of our understanding of migraine neurophysiology, leading to major drug classes, such as triptans, calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists, and 5-HT1F receptor agonists, as well as neuromodulatory approaches, with the promise of more to come. The present review will discuss the current understanding of the neurophysiology of migraine, particularly migraine headache, and novel insights into the complex neural networks responsible for associated neurological symptoms, and how interaction of these networks with migraine pain pathways has implications for the development of novel therapeutics.

Pathophysiology of Migraine: A Disorder of Sensory Processing

Plaguing humans for more than two millennia, manifest on every continent studied, and with more than one billion patients having an attack in any year, migraine stands as the sixth most common cause of disability on the planet. The pathophysiology of migraine has emerged from a historical consideration of the "humors" through mid-20th century distraction of the now defunct Vascular Theory to a clear place as a neurological disorder. It could be said there are three questions: why, how, and when? Why: migraine is largely accepted to be an inherited tendency for the brain to lose control of its inputs. How: the now classical trigeminal durovascular afferent pathway has been explored in laboratory and clinic; interrogated with immunohistochemistry to functional brain imaging to offer a roadmap of the attack. When: migraine attacks emerge due to a disorder of brain sensory processing that itself likely cycles, influenced by genetics and the environment. In the first, premonitory, phase that precedes headache, brain stem and diencephalic systems modulating afferent signals, light-photophobia or sound-phonophobia, begin to dysfunction and eventually to evolve to the pain phase and with time the resolution or postdromal phase. Understanding the biology of migraine through careful bench-based research has led to major classes of therapeutics being identified: triptans, serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonists; gepants, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists; ditans, 5-HT1F receptor agonists, CGRP mechanisms monoclonal antibodies; and glurants, mGlu5 modulators; with the promise of more to come. Investment in understanding migraine has been very successful and leaves us at a new dawn, able to transform its impact on a global scale, as well as understand fundamental aspects of human biology.

Somatosensory temporal discrimination remains intact in tension-type headache whereas it is disrupted in migraine attacks

Background and objective

Somatosensory temporal discrimination was recently reported as prolonged during migraine attacks, which is consistent with disrupted sensorial perception in migraine. However, knowledge about central sensory processing in tension-type headache is still lacking. This prospective, controlled study aimed to investigate somatosensory temporal discrimination thresholds in tension-type headache.

Methods

The study included 10 tension-type headache patients, 10 migraine patients and 10 healthy volunteers without headache. Somatosensory temporal discrimination thresholds were evaluated during the headache attacks of tension-type headache and migraine patients.

Results

Somatosensory temporal discrimination thresholds of tension-type headache patients (39.0 ± 5.5 ms for the right hand and 40.6 ± 4.6 ms for the left hand) were significantly lower than those of episodic migraine patients (137.1 ± 35.8 ms for the right hand and 118.4 ± 34.3 ms for the left hand, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001 respectively), and comparable to those of healthy volunteers (38.6 ± 5.3 ms for the right hand and 38.3 ± 7.2 ms for the left hand, p = 0.79 and p = 0.45 respectively).

Conclusion

Central sensory processing, as tested by somatosensory temporal discrimination, was remarkably disrupted during the headache attacks in migraineurs, whereas it remained intact in the tension-type headache patients.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation and potential cortical and trigeminothalamic mechanisms in migraine

A single pulse of transcranial magnetic stimulation has been shown to be effective for the acute treatment of migraine with and without aura. Here we aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms of action of transcranial magnetic stimulation, using a transcortical approach, in preclinical migraine models. We tested the susceptibility of cortical spreading depression, the experimental correlate of migraine aura, and further evaluated the response of spontaneous and evoked trigeminovascular activity of second order trigemontothalamic and third order thalamocortical neurons in rats. Single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation significantly inhibited both mechanical and chemically-induced cortical spreading depression when administered immediately post-induction in rats, but not when administered preinduction, and when controlled by a sham stimulation. Additionally transcranial magnetic stimulation significantly inhibited the spontaneous and evoked firing rate of third order thalamocortical projection neurons, but not second order neurons in the trigeminocervical complex, suggesting a potential modulatory effect that may underlie its utility in migraine. In gyrencephalic cat cortices, when administered post-cortical spreading depression, transcranial magnetic stimulation blocked the propagation of cortical spreading depression in two of eight animals. These results are the first to demonstrate that cortical spreading depression can be blocked in vivo using single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation and further highlight a novel thalamocortical modulatory capacity that may explain the efficacy of magnetic stimulation in the treatment of migraine with and without aura.

Alcohol-induced headaches: Evidence for a central mechanism?

Alcoholic drinks (ADs) have been reported as a migraine trigger in about one-third of the migraine patients in retrospective studies. Some studies found that ADs trigger also other primary headaches. The studies concerning the role of ADs in triggering various types of primary headaches published after the International Headache Society classification criteria of 1988 were reviewed, and the pathophysiological mechanisms were discussed. Many studies show that ADs are a trigger of migraine without aura (MO), migraine with aura (MA), cluster headache (CH), and tension-type headache (TH). While data on MO and CH are well delineated, those in MA and TH are discordant. There are sparse reports that ADs are also triggers of less frequent types of primary headache such as familial hemiplegic migraine, hemicrania continua, and paroxysmal hemicrania. However, in some countries, the occurrence of alcohol as headache trigger is negligible, perhaps determined by alcohol habits. The frequency estimates vary widely based on the study approach and population. In fact, prospective studies report a limited importance of ADs as migraine trigger. If ADs are capable of triggering practically all primary headaches, they should act at a common pathogenetic level. The mechanisms of alcohol-provoking headache were discussed in relationship to the principal pathogenetic theories of primary headaches. The conclusion was that vasodilatation is hardly compatible with ADs trigger activity of all primary headaches and a common pathogenetic mechanism at cortical, or more likely at subcortical/brainstem, level is more plausible.

Evidence-Based Treatments for Adults with Migraine

Migraine, a significantly disabling condition, is treated with acute and preventive medications. However, some individuals are refractory to standard treatments. Although there is a host of alternative management options available, these are not always backed by strong evidence. In fact, most of the drugs used in migraine were initially designed for other purposes. Whilst effective, the benefits from these medications are modest, reflecting the need for newer and migraine-specific therapeutic agents. In recent years, we have witnessed the emergence of novel treatments, of which noninvasive neuromodulation appears to be the most attractive given its ease of use and excellent tolerability profile. This paper reviews the evidence behind the available treatments for migraine.

Animal models of chronic migraine

Many animal models of migraine have been described. Some of them have been useful in the development of new therapies. All of them have their shortcomings. Animal models of chronic migraine have been relatively less frequently described. Whether a rigid distinction between episodic and chronic migraine is useful when their underlying pathophysiology is likely to be the same and that migraine frequency probably depends on complex polygenic influences remains to be determined. Any model of chronic migraine must reflect the chronicity of the disorder and be reliable and validated with pharmacological interventions. Future animal models of chronic migraine are likely to involve recurrent activation of the trigeminal nociceptive system. Valid models would provide a means for investigating pathophysiological mechanism of the transformation from episodic to chronic migraine and may also be used to test the efficacy of potential preventive medications.

Headache and sleep: shared pathophysiological mechanisms

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the current article is to review the shared pathophysiological mechanisms which may underlie the clinical association between headaches and sleep disorders.

BACKGROUND

The association between sleep and headache is well documented in terms of clinical phenotypes. Disrupted sleep-wake patterns appear to predispose individuals to headache attacks and increase the risk of chronification, while sleep is one of the longest established abortive strategies. In agreement, narcoleptic patients show an increased prevalence of migraine compared to the general population and specific familial sleep disorders have been identified to be comorbid with migraine with aura.

CONCLUSION

The pathophysiology and pharmacology of headache and sleep disorders involves an array of neural networks which likely underlie their shared clinical association. While it is difficult to differentiate between cause and effect, or simply a spurious relationship the striking brainstem, hypothalamic and thalamic convergence would suggest a bidirectional influence.

Epigenetics and migraine; complex mitochondrial interactions contributing to disease susceptibility

Migraine is a common neurological disorder classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the top twenty most debilitating diseases in the developed world. Current therapies are only effective for a proportion of sufferers and new therapeutic targets are desperately needed to alleviate this burden. Recently the role of epigenetics in the development of many complex diseases including migraine has become an emerging topic. By understanding the importance of acetylation, methylation and other epigenetic modifications, it then follows that this modification process is a potential target to manipulate epigenetic status with the goal of treating disease. Bisulphite sequencing and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation have been used to demonstrate the presence of methylated cytosines in the human D-loop of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), proving that the mitochondrial genome is methylated. For the first time, it has been shown that there is a difference in mtDNA epigenetic status between healthy controls and those with disease, especially for neurodegenerative and age related conditions. Given co-morbidities with migraine and the suggestive link between mitochondrial dysfunction and the lowered threshold for triggering a migraine attack, mitochondrial methylation may be a new avenue to pursue. Creative thinking and new approaches are needed to solve complex problems and a systems biology approach, where multiple layers of information are integrated is becoming more important in complex disease modelling.

Cortical spreading depression and central pain networks in trigeminal nuclei modulation: time for an integrated migraine pathogenesis perspective

The role of the cortical spreading depression (CSD)-dependent trigeminovascular activation in migraine etiopathogenesis, long considered paradigmatic, has remained substantially unproven in humans. The parallel advancement of functional neuroimaging techniques promoted the extensive exploration of the brain networks involved in pain processing in search of a possible central migraine generator. However, despite initial enthusiasms, it has not been possible to clarify whether the functional central "markers" of pain observed in primary headaches could be considered as causative or just the neural correlates of the ongoing pain. Nonetheless, our knowledge on the complex interactions between CSD, neurogenic inflammation, peripheral trigeminovascular input, central cortico-trigeminal nuclei direct modulation and pain processing and limbic system networks has enormously grown, allowing the reconceptualisation of migraine from a neurovascular to a pure neurolimbic pain disorder, therefore relocating it in the much broader frame of the brain and whole organism homeostatic control. In this work, the available evidences currently supporting the relevance of CSD, of peripheral trigeminovascular input and of direct cortico-trigeminal nuclei modulation in migraine pathogenesis are reviewed in the light of a possible integrated migraine etiopathogenetic perspective.

Trigeminocardiac reflex: differential behavior and risk factors in the course of the trigeminal nerve

ABSTRACT; The trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) is a brainstem reflex describing the acute hemodynamic perturbations in neurosurgical patients. The roles of different anatomic locations of this reflex arc on end responses have been found to be variable. In this article, we have highlighted the role and importance of different TCR pathway (peripheral vs central) mechanisms, their manifestations and the various risk factors associated with these. In addition, new insights into various other non-neurosurgical conditions, in special relation to neurointerventional procedures, are also presented in this article. This study is a narrative review based on a PubMed/Google search (from 1 January 1970 to 31 March 2013) on this topic. The common manifestations, such as hypotension and bradycardia, are vagal-dominated responses; however, unusual manifestations, such as hypertension and tachycardia, signify the involvement of the sympathetic nervous system. In addition, there is a complex interaction of the various sensory receptors at the Gasserian ganglion, and this is responsible for the different presentations. There are many surgical as well as nonsurgical risk factors associated with TCR. Interestingly, TCR may affect functional outcome and has been found to be involved in some normal physiological mechanisms, including bruxism. TCR is a complex neurophysiological reflex and there are variable presentations depending upon the peripheral or central stimulation surrounding the Gasserian ganglion. We suggest, for the first time, that if the TCR is initiated at the Gasserian ganglion, it reacts in a different manner from the better-known central or peripheral TCR.

Increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression in an animal model of medication-overuse headache

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this article is to evaluate electrically evoked thresholds for cortical spreading depression (CSD) and stress-induced activation of trigeminal afferents in a rat model of medication-overuse headache (MOH).

METHODS

Sumatriptan or saline was delivered subcutaneously by osmotic minipump for six days to Sprague-Dawley rats. Two weeks after pump removal, animals were anesthetized and recording/stimulating electrodes implanted. The animals were pretreated with vehicle or topiramate followed by graded electrical stimulation within the visual cortex. CSD events were identified by decreased EEG amplitude and DC potential shift. Additional unanesthetized sumatriptan or saline-pretreated rats were exposed to bright light environmental stress and periorbital and hindpaw withdrawal thresholds were measured. Following CSD stimulation or environmental stress, immunohistochemical staining for Fos in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) was performed.

RESULTS

Sumatriptan pre-exposure significantly decreased electrical stimulation threshold to generate a CSD event. Topiramate normalized the decreased CSD threshold as well as stress-induced behavioral withdrawal thresholds in sumatriptan-treated rats compared to saline-treated animals. Moreover, CSD and environmental stress increased Fos expression in the TNC of sumatriptan-treated rats, and these effects were blocked by topiramate. Environmental stress did not elicit cutaneous allodynia or elevate TNC Fos expression in saline-treated rats.

CONCLUSIONS

A previous period of sumatriptan exposure produced long-lasting increased susceptibility to evoked CSD and environmental stress-induced activation of the TNC that was prevented by topiramate. Lowered CSD threshold, and enhanced consequences of CSD events (increased activation of TNC), may represent an underlying biological mechanism of MOH related to triptans.

Genetic variation in cytokine-related genes and migraine susceptibility

Migraine is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being one of the top 20 most debilitating diseases. According to the neurovascular hypothesis, neuroinflammation may promote the activation and sensitisation of meningeal nociceptors, inducing the persistent throbbing headache characterized in migraine. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene cluster, made up of TNFα, lymphotoxin α (LTA), and lymphotoxin β (LTB), has been implicated to influence the intensity and duration of local inflammation. It is thought that sterile inflammation mediated by LTA, LTB, and TNFα contributes to threshold brain excitability, propagation of neuronal hyperexcitability and thus initiation and maintenance of a migraine attack. Previous studies have investigated variants within the TNF gene cluster region in relation to migraine susceptibility, with largely conflicting results. The aim of this study was to expand on previous research and utilize a large case-control cohort and range of variants within the TNF gene cluster to investigate the role of the TNF gene cluster in migraine. Nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected for investigation as follows: rs1800683, rs2229094, rs2009658, rs2071590, rs2239704, rs909253, rs1800630, rs1800629, and rs3093664. No significant association with migraine susceptibility was found for any of the SNPs tested, with further testing according to migraine subtype and gender also showing no association for disease risk. Haplotype analysis showed that none of the tested haplotypes were significantly associated with migraine.

Cortical spreading depression and migraine

Cortical spreading depression (CSD), a slowly propagated wave of depolarization followed by suppression of brain activity, is a remarkably complex event that involves dramatic changes in neural and vascular function. Since its original description in the 1940s, CSD has been hypothesized to be the underlying mechanism of the migraine aura. Substantial evidence from animal models provides indirect support for this hypothesis, and studies showing that CSD is common in humans with brain injury clearly demonstrate that the phenomenon can occur in the human brain. Considerable uncertainty about the role of CSD in migraine remains, however, and key questions about how this event is initiated, how it spreads, and how it might cause migraine symptoms remain unanswered. This Review summarizes current concepts of CSD and its potential roles in migraine, and addresses ongoing studies aimed at a clearer understanding of this fundamental brain phenomenon.

Electrophysiological correlates of episodic migraine chronification: evidence for thalamic involvement

Background

Episodic migraine is characterized by decreased high-frequency somatosensory oscillations (HFOs), reflecting thalamo-cortical activity, and deficient habituation of low-frequency (LF-) somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) to repetitive sensory stimulation between attacks. Here, we study conventional LF-SSEPs and HFOs in episodic migraineurs who developed chronic migraine (CM).

Methods

Thirty-four episodic (15 interictally [MOii], 19 ictally [MOi]) and 19 CM patients underwent right median nerve SSEPs. The patient groups were compared to a group of 20 healthy volunteers (HV) of comparable age and gender distribution. We measured the N20-P25 LF-SSEP 1st amplitude block and habituation, and, after applying a band-pass filter (450–750 Hz), maximal peak-to-peak latency and the amplitudes of the early and late HFOs.

Results

Reduced early HFOs, lower 1st block LF-SSEPs and deficient habituation characterize MOii. Initially higher SSEP amplitudes and late normal habituation characterize both CM and MOi patients. After the digital filtration, both patient groups showed shortened latency peaks and normalization of early HFO amplitudes with increased late HFOs. When data of MO and CM patients were combined, the monthly number of days with headache negatively correlated with the LF-SSEP slope (r = −0.385, p = 0.006), which in turn negatively correlated with the 1st amplitude block (r = 0.568, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our results show abnormalities in chronic migraine that are also reported during attacks in episodic migraineurs, namely early response sensitization and late habituation. The HFO analysis suggests that this sensory sensitization may be explained by an increase in the strength of the connections between the thalamus and cortex compared to episodic migraine between attacks. Whether this electro-functional behaviour is primary or secondary to daily headache, thus reflecting an electrophysiological fingerprint of the somatosensory system central sensitization process, remains to be determined.