title: Reduced threshold for cortical spreading depression in female mice.
abstract: The prevalence of migraine is much greater in female than male individuals. Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is thought to be a fundamental mechanism of migraine, and CSD in rodents is used as a model for migraine. We used optical intrinsic signal imaging and electrophysiological techniques to investigate CSD in C57Bl/6 mice. Using two different methods for induction of CSD, we found that female mice had a significantly reduced threshold for induction of CSD compared with male mice. These results suggest an increased cortical excitability in female mice that may be independent of the estrous cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero Reyes
authors.forename: Héctor E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: López Valdés
authors.forename: Arthur P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Charles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D013181:Cortical Spreading Depression / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D011189:Potassium Chloride