Analgesia effect of baicalein against NTG-induced migraine in rats.
BACKGROUND
Migraine is a complex nervous system disease characterized by typical throbbing and unilateral headache, which causes severe healthy and social issues worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of baicalein (BAI) on the treatment of migraine.


METHODS
Twenty-four rats were randomly divided equally into four groups, including a blank group, model group, positive group (ibuprofen tablets 82mg/kg), and BAI group (60mg/kg). All rats were intragastrically treated with the corresponding treatment for 10 consecutive days, and they were subcutaneously injected with NTG (10mg/kg) 1h after the last treatment, except in the blank group. After model establishment, the behaviors of all rats, including scratching head and shaking body were observed continuously for 100min. Four hours after NTG treatment, all rats were anaesthetized and the blood was collected. Thereafter, nitric oxide (NO) in plasma was determined by colorimetric method, the level of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and endothelin (ET) were detected by radioimmunoassay method. In addition, immunohistochemistry was applied to detect c-Fos neuronal activity in trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC).


RESULTS
Behavioral research showed that BAI administration alleviated the hyperalgesia in migraine rats. Compared with the model group, the levels of NO and CGRP in BAI administration groups were markedly decreased (p<0.01), and the levels of ET was significantly increased (p<0.01). Meanwhile, immunohistochemistry results showed that NTG treatment significantly activated c-Fos neurons while BAI treatment inhibited the expression of c-Fos.


CONCLUSIONS
BAI could alleviate the migraine-like headache induced by NTG, which is related to the regulation of vasoactive substances. These findings may contribute to the further study of BAI as a potential drug for migraine pharmacotherapy.
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, JS 210009, China.
Xiao-Fan
XF
Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, JS 210009, China.
Wen-Jun
WJ
Zhang
The People's Hospital of Zhangqiu, Zhangqiu 250200, China.
Cui-Lan
CL
Dong
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, JS 210009, China.
Wan-Li
WL
Hu
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, JS 210009, China.
Yu-Yao
YY
Sun
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, JS 210009, China.
Yarigui
Y
Bao
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, JS 210009, China; Tang Center of Herbal Medicine Research and Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. Electronic address: zhangchunfeng67@163.com.
Chun-Feng
CF
Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, JS 210009, China. Electronic address: guochangrun@126.com.
Chang-Run
CR
Guo
Tang Center of Herbal Medicine Research and Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Chong-Zhi
CZ
Wang
Tang Center of Herbal Medicine Research and Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Chun-Su
CS
Yuan
D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood; D044950:Flavanones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014278:Trigeminal Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D016232:Endothelins; D044950:Flavanones; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C006680:baicalein; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
Baicalein; Calcitonin gene-related peptide; Endothelin; Migraine; Nitric oxide; c-Fos