title: Contributions of biochemistry to the pathogenesis of primary headaches.
abstract: We briefly summarise biochemical anomalies of serotonin, norepinephrine, glutamic and aspartic acids, the main neurotransmitters of inhibitory and excitatory neuronal circuitries, found in primary headaches and their relationship with pathogenesis of migraine and cluster headache (CH). In addition, the high levels of circulating tyramine, octopamine and synephrine (elusive amines), recently reported in both migraine types and CH, are discussed in relation to the other "classic" amines findings. In particular it is suggested how abnormal levels of elusive amines may participate in the pathophysiology of migraine and CH acting through their specific trace amine receptors and alpha and beta receptors. The possible hypothesis that emerges from the analysis of these biochemical findings is that an imbalance of systems, with opposite neurophysiological functions related to the pain and other yet unknown functions, may constitute the biochemical phenotype of migraine with and without aura, and CH.
authors.affiliation: Headache and Cerebrovascular Diseases Center, Villa Margherita Neurological Clinic, Arcugnano (VI), Italy. giovinavi@libero.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terrazzino
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Nordera
mesh_terms: D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D018846:Excitatory Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D018846:Excitatory Amino Acids; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid