Xiongshao Zhitong Recipe Attenuates Nitroglycerin-Induced Migraine-Like Behaviors via the Inhibition of Inflammation Mediated by Nitric Oxide Synthase

Histopathological effects of repeated 14-day administration of rizatriptan benzoate in a nitroglycerin-induced migraine rabbits model

Background

Migraine is one of multiple attack neurological conditions that causes moderate to severe headaches with no defined pathophysiology and few animal models.

Aim

Establishing an animal model that reproduces migraine-like action is important in medical research to identify the mechanism underlying this disorder. Additionally, it facilitates the availability and reliability of new models that may act as human surrogate models.

Method

Rabbits were divided into four groups. Negative group, migraine group, rizatriptan-nitroglycerin group, and rizatriptan group. The frequency of head scratching and the histopathological changes in the brain, liver, kidney, and heart for groups were evaluated in all groups.

Results

The behavioral characteristic of head scratching was significantly increased in the NTG group (50.4 ± 3.8) compared with the control group (9.2 ± 1.3) after 30 min of the experiment. Moreover, animals treated with rizatriptan benzoate (Riza) 10 mg/kg/orally for 14 days followed by NTG injection showed a significant decrease in the head scratch action (16.8 ± 2.3 and 17.6 ± 3.3) than the animals of NTG group (50.4 ± 3.8 and 43.6 ± 2.3) after 30 min and 60 min, respectively. Furthermore, animals treated with Riza alone showed no statistical differences in the head scratches (7.8 ± 1.3, 9.2 ± 0.8, 10.6 ± 1.1 and 9.6 ± 1.3, respectively) during the 120 min of the experiment, compared with the control group. Histopathological alterations in the brain of rabbits that received NTG showed severe diffuse dilated and engorged blood vessels. These changes were also recorded in the liver and kidney of this group. This marked vasodilation of blood vessels and central and portal veins confirms the successful induction of migraine in the rabbit model. In contrast, animals treated with Riza for 14 days demonstrated substantially less vascular dilation following NTG injection. No significant pathological lesions were observed in animals treated with Riza.

Conclusion

The current study successfully established a rabbit model of migraine using a single dose of NTG to induce migraine-like behavior. Moreover, pre-treatment with rizatriptan benzoate for fourteen days significantly reduced the symptoms of migraine and histopathological changes in different organs.

Histopathological effects of repeated 14-day administration of rizatriptan benzoate in a nitroglycerin-induced migraine rabbits model

Background

Migraine is one of multiple attack neurological conditions that causes moderate to severe headaches with no defined pathophysiology and few animal models.

Aim

Establishing an animal model that reproduces migraine-like action is important in medical research to identify the mechanism underlying this disorder. Additionally, it facilitates the availability and reliability of new models that may act as human surrogate models.

Method

Rabbits were divided into four groups. Negative group, migraine group, rizatriptan-nitroglycerin group, and rizatriptan group. The frequency of head scratching and the histopathological changes in the brain, liver, kidney, and heart for groups were evaluated in all groups.

Results

The behavioral characteristic of head scratching was significantly increased in the NTG group (50.4 ± 3.8) compared with the control group (9.2 ± 1.3) after 30 min of the experiment. Moreover, animals treated with rizatriptan benzoate (Riza) 10 mg/kg/orally for 14 days followed by NTG injection showed a significant decrease in the head scratch action (16.8 ± 2.3 and 17.6 ± 3.3) than the animals of NTG group (50.4 ± 3.8 and 43.6 ± 2.3) after 30 min and 60 min, respectively. Furthermore, animals treated with Riza alone showed no statistical differences in the head scratches (7.8 ± 1.3, 9.2 ± 0.8, 10.6 ± 1.1 and 9.6 ± 1.3, respectively) during the 120 min of the experiment, compared with the control group. Histopathological alterations in the brain of rabbits that received NTG showed severe diffuse dilated and engorged blood vessels. These changes were also recorded in the liver and kidney of this group. This marked vasodilation of blood vessels and central and portal veins confirms the successful induction of migraine in the rabbit model. In contrast, animals treated with Riza for 14 days demonstrated substantially less vascular dilation following NTG injection. No significant pathological lesions were observed in animals treated with Riza.

Conclusion

The current study successfully established a rabbit model of migraine using a single dose of NTG to induce migraine-like behavior. Moreover, pre-treatment with rizatriptan benzoate for fourteen days significantly reduced the symptoms of migraine and histopathological changes in different organs.

New perspectives on migraine treatment: a review of the mechanisms and effects of complementary and alternative therapies

Migraine is a prevalent and disabling neurovascular disorder, with women being more susceptible, characterized by unilateral throbbing headache, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and often associated with various comorbidities such as brain and cardiovascular diseases, which can have a serious impact on quality of life. Although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the main first-line medications for the treatment of pain, long-term use often leads to side effects and drug addiction, which emphasizes the need to investigate alternative pain management strategies with fewer adverse effects. Complementary and alternative medicine is a viable pain intervention often used in conjunction with traditional medications, including acupuncture, herbs, moxibustion, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, bio-supplements, and acupressure, which offer non-pharmacological alternatives that are now viable pain management options. This review focuses on the mechanistic doctrine of migraine generation and the role and potential mechanisms of Complementary and Alternative Therapies (CAT) in the treatment of migraine, summarizes the research evidences for CAT as an adjunct or alternative to conventional therapies for migraine, and focuses on the potential of novel migraine therapies (calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists and pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) antagonists) with the aim of evaluating CAT therapies as adjunctive or alternative therapies to conventional migraine treatment, thereby providing a broader perspective on migraine management and the design of treatment programs for more effective pain management.

Efficacy and Safety of Anti-calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) Monoclonal Antibodies in Preventing Migraines: A Systematic Review

The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is an essential pathophysiological treatment for migraines. A unique class of medications called CGRP monoclonal antibodies target CGRP and its receptor and have demonstrated promising benefits in the treatment and prevention of migraines. This study sought to identify and assess the quality of existing systematic reviews about the effectiveness of CGRP antibodies for preventing migraines, as well as systematically review and synthesize the evidence on these topics. This included the four Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications erenumab, galcanezumab, fremanezumab, and eptinezumab. The effectiveness and safety of these monoclonal antibodies in preventing migraines should also be examined in light of patient characteristics, and any gaps in the body of knowledge should be noted in order to suggest new lines of investigation. Data gathering included a thorough search of internet databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus) for relevant research released between 2018 and 2023. The findings imply that CGRP monoclonal antibodies are efficient and secure for preventing migraines and may be considered a first-line alternative for treating migraines and drug misuse. The results further imply that combination treatment with CGRP antibodies and onabotulinumtoxinA may enhance the prevention of migraine in adults. With suggestions for more studies to find and address these variables, the significance of genetic and epigenetic factors in the progression of pediatric patients' acute postoperative pain to chronic postsurgical pain is underlined. All four anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies, erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab, and eptinezumab, were shown to be safe and effective for the prevention of migraine when the research additionally looked at their individual effectiveness and safety. Additionally, the study discovered considerable variances in effectiveness amongst various groups. However, further investigation is required to establish the best time and dosage and the effect of patient characteristics on the effectiveness and safety of these medications.

Potential analgesic effect of Foshousan oil-loaded chitosan-alginate nanoparticles on the treatment of migraine

Background: Migraine is a common neurovascular disorder with typical throbbing and unilateral headaches, causing a considerable healthcare burden on the global economy. This research aims to prepare chitosan-alginate (CS-AL) nanoparticles (NPs) containing Foshousan oil (FSSO) and investigate its potential therapeutic effects on the treatment of migraine. Methods: FSSO-loaded CS-AL NPs were prepared by using the single emulsion solvent evaporation method. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 cells and nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced migraine mice were further used to explore anti-migraine activities and potential mechanisms of this botanical drug. Results: FSSO-loaded CS-AL NPs (212.1 ± 5.2 nm, 45.1 ± 6.2 mV) had a well-defined spherical shape with prolonged drug release and good storage within 4 weeks. FSSO and FSSO-loaded CS-AL NPs (5, 10, and 15 μg/mL) showed anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-treated BV-2 cells via reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO), but elevating interleukin-10 (IL-10) expressions. Moreover, FSSO-loaded CS-AL NPs (52 and 104 mg/kg) raised pain thresholds against the hot stimulus and decreased acetic acid-induced writhing frequency and foot-licking duration in NTG-induced migraine mice. Compared with the model group, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and NO levels were downregulated, but 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and endothelin (ET) levels were upregulated along with rebalanced ET/NO ratio, and vasomotor dysfunction was alleviated by promoting cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the FSSO-loaded CS-AL NPs (104 mg/kg) group. Conclusion: FSSO-loaded CS-AL NPs could attenuate migraine via inhibiting neuroinflammation in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells and regulating vasoactive substances in NTG-induced migraine mice. These findings suggest that the FSS formula may be exploited as new phytotherapy for treating migraine.