Increased expression of endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in dura and pia mater after air stress.
Stress is the leading precipitating factor for migraine attacks but the underlying mechanism is currently unknown. Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in migraine pathogenesis based on the ability of NO donors to induce migraine attacks. In the present study, we investigated in Wistar rats the effect of air stress on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA and protein expression in dura and pia mater using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Endothelial (e)NOS protein expression was significantly increased in dura and pia mater after air stress. Significantly augmented neuronal (n)NOS protein expression was detected in pia mater after air stress but not in dura mater. Inducible NOS mRNA and protein expression levels in dura and pia mater were unaffected by stress. The increased expression of eNOS in dura mater and eNOS and nNOS in pia mater seen after stress could not be antagonized by treatment with the migraine drug sumatriptan. These findings point towards the involvement of increased NO concentrations in dura and pia mater in response to air stress. However, the role of these findings in relation to migraine pathophysiology remains unclear.
Zinck
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T
Department of Pharmacology, The Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Illum
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Jansen-Olesen
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D000392:Air Movements; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000201:enzymology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010841:Pia Mater / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000494:pharmacology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D018170:Sumatriptan; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D003345:Corticosterone