Abnormal 5-HT1D receptor function in cluster headache: a neuroendocrine study with sumatriptan.
The purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity of 5-HT(1D) receptors in patients with episodic cluster headache using sumatriptan as a pharmacological probe. The drug, a selective 5-HT(1B/1D) agonist, stimulates the secretion of growth hormone and inhibits the release of prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol. These effects may be used to explore the function of serotonergic systems in vivo. We administered subcutaneous sumatriptan and placebo to 20 patients with cluster headache (10 in the active phase and 10 in the remission period) and to 12 controls. The sumatriptan-induced increase of growth hormone concentrations was significantly (P < 0.05) blunted in patients with active cluster headache. Prolactin and ACTH responses to the drug were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in patients with cluster headache, both in the active and in the remission period. Our results suggest that cerebral serotonergic functions mediated by 5-HT(1D) receptors are altered in patients with episodic cluster headache.
Pinessi
L
L
Neurology III, Headache Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. lorenzo.pinessi@unito.it
Rainero
I
I
Valfrè
W
W
Lo Giudice
R
R
Ferrero
M
M
Rivoiro
C
C
Arvat
E
E
Gianotti
L
L
Del Rizzo
P
P
Limone
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D044346:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1D / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000494:pharmacology*
D044346:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1D; D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists; D018170:Sumatriptan