title: Nitric oxide synthase inhibition lowers activity of neurons with meningeal input in the rat spinal trigeminal nucleus.
abstract: Nitric oxide is thought to control transmitter release and neuronal activity in the spinal dorsal horn and the spinal trigeminal nucleus, where nociceptive information from extra- and intracranial tissues is processed. Extracellular impulse activity was recorded from neurons in the rat spinal trigeminal nucleus with afferent input from the cranial dura mater. In contrast to the inactive isomer D-NAME, infusion of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (20 mg/kg) significantly reduced neuronal activity and increased systemic blood pressure. It is concluded that nitric oxide production contributes to the ongoing activity of sensitized neurons in the spinal trigeminal nucleus. The results suggest that nitric oxide may be involved in the generation and maintenance of primary headaches such as migraine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology and Experimental Pathophysiology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Col
authors.forename: Stanislav V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Koulchitsky
authors.forename: Karl B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Messlinger
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008578:Meninges / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014279:Trigeminal Nucleus, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester