Migraine, but not subarachnoid hemorrhage, is associated with differentially increased NPY-like immunoreactivity in the CSF.
To test whether migraine and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are associated with increased sympathetic tone, we compared the neuropeptide Y-like (NPY-LI) and chromogranin A-like immunoreactivities (LI) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from migraneurs and SAH patients with those from control subjects. Increased sympathetic tone was expected to produce higher co-release of these co-stored peptides and concordant changes in their CSF levels. In addition, we investigated a possible disturbed nitric oxide homeostasis by measuring CSF nitrites (NO). More than 70% of CSF NPY-LI corresponded to the chromatographic peak (HPLC) for the intact molecule in all three groups. Migraneurs had 64% higher CSF NPY-LI, but no significant difference in CSF chromogranin A-LI, as compared to controls. In contrast, SAH patients had 74% less CSF chromogranin A-LI and a trend to lower NPY-LI, as compared to controls. No differences in CSF NO were detected among groups. These results argue against an increased sympathetic tone in patients with either migraine or SAH, and suggest that the higher CSF NPY-LI of migraneurs probably originates from central neurons. Furthermore, our findings in SAH patients argue in favor of a decreased sympathetic tone; this could be a homeostatic response to counterbalance vasoconstriction mediated by other mechanisms.
Valenzuela
R F
RF
Departamento de Neurología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Marcoleta 367, Santiago, Chile. neuro@med.puc.cl
Donoso
M V
MV
Mellado
P A
PA
Huidobro-Toro
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D009573:Nitrites / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000503:physiopathology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide