Baicalin Alleviates Nitroglycerin-induced Migraine in Rats via the Trigeminovascular System

Phytother Res. 2017 Jun;31(6):899-905. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5811. Epub 2017 May 10.

Abstract

Migraine is a common neurological disorder with a serious impact on quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of baicalin on nitroglycerin-induced migraine rats. We carried out a behavioral research within 2 h post-nitroglycerin injection, and blood samples were drawn for measurements of nitric oxide (NO), calcitonin gene-related peptide, and endothelin (ET) levels. Immunohistochemistry was adopted to detect the activation of C-fos immunoreactive neurons in periaqueductal gray. The number, area size, and integrated optical density of C-fos positive cells were measured using Image-Pro Plus. As a result, baicalin administration (0.22 mm/kg) alleviated pain responses of migraine rats. It profoundly decreased NO and calcitonin gene-related peptide levels, increased ET levels, and rebuilt the NO/ET balance in migraine rats. Besides, baicalin pretreatment significantly reduced the number, the stained area size, and integrated optical density value of C-fos positive cells. In brief, this paper supports the possibility of baicalin as a potential migraine pharmacotherapy. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Keywords: C-fos; baicalin; calcitonin gene-related peptide; endothelin; migraine; nitric oxide.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / metabolism
  • Endothelins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Migraine Disorders / chemically induced
  • Migraine Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitroglycerin / adverse effects*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Trigeminal Caudal Nucleus / drug effects*

Substances

  • Endothelins
  • Flavonoids
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Nitric Oxide
  • baicalin
  • Nitroglycerin
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide