title: Role of dopaminergic receptors in the human dura mater in the pathogenesis of headache.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesize that dopaminergic receptors of dura mater may play a possible role in headache.
  
  
  METHODS
  The dopaminergic receptors of cranial dura mater in man were studied by examining several dural zones (vascular, peri-vascular, inter-vascular) in different brain regions (basal, calvarial, tentorial, occipital, frontal, parietal, temporal).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results demonstrate that dopaminergic receptors are present in human cranial dura mater and that these receptors show a specific morphological location. There are more dural dopaminergic receptors in the basal region than in the calvarial one. Moreover, these receptors are more abundant in the vascular and perivascular dural zone than in the intervascular one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The location of dopaminergic receptors in the dura mater may represent an important factor in the pathogenesis of headache. Further studies will be necessary in order to determine the role of dopaminergic system in this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy. gianfranco.tonnarini@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tonnarini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gianturco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cilli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minisola
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavallotti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000737:chemistry*; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011954:Receptors, Dopamine