Functional bases for a central serotonergic involvement in classic migraine: a speculative view.
The rôle of serotonin (5-HT) in the cerebrovascular bed is the subject of the following review. Cerebral blood vessels are supplied with 5-HT-containing fibres which originate in the raphé nuclei in the brainstem. The activation of this system may result in a constriction of large arteries and a dilatation of arterioles. Intra-arterial administration of 5-HT causes reduction in cerebral blood flow and metabolism provided it bypasses the blood-brain barrier. The findings, marked changes in plasma levels of 5-HT and in cerebral blood flow during a classic migraine attack, are suggestive of an involvement of the 5-HT system.
D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000187:drug effects; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002415:Cats; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010215:Papio; D051381:Rats; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin