title: Modulation of CGRP-induced light aversion in wild-type mice by a 5-HT(1B/D) agonist.
abstract: The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of migraine. We have focused on the role of CGRP in photophobia, which is a common migraine symptom. We previously used an operant-based assay to show that CGRP-sensitized transgenic (nestin/hRAMP1), but not control, mice exhibited light aversion in response to an intracerebroventricular CGRP injection. A key question was whether the transgenic phenotype was due to overexpression of the CGRP receptor at endogenous or novel expression sites. We reasoned that if endogenous receptor sites were sufficient for light-aversive behavior, then wild-type mice should also show the phenotype when given a sufficiently strong stimulus. In this study, we report that mice with normal levels of endogenous CGRP receptors demonstrate light avoidance following CGRP administration. This phenotype required the combination of two factors: higher light intensity and habituation to the testing chamber. Control tests confirmed that light aversion was dependent on coincident exposure to CGRP and light and cannot be fully explained by increased anxiety. Furthermore, CGRP reduced locomotion only in the dark, not in the light. Coadministration of rizatriptan, a 5-HT(1B/D) agonist anti-migraine drug, attenuated the effects of exogenous CGRP on light aversion and motility. This suggests that triptans can act by mechanisms that are distinct from inhibition of CGRP release. Thus, we demonstrate that activation of endogenous CGRP receptors is sufficient to elicit light aversion in mice, which can be modulated by a drug commonly used to treat migraine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Adisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuburas
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Recober
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Russo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D020795:Photophobia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B / Q000187:drug effects*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014230:Triazoles; D014363:Tryptamines; C093622:rizatriptan; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide