Treatment of stress-induced migraine headache with a corticotropin

Abstract

Non-traumatic immobilization (restrain) stress causes rapid degranulation of rat dura mast cells, as shown both by light and electron microscopy. These morphologic findings were accompanied by elevation of rat mast cell protease cerebrospinal fluid. Mast cell activation due to stress was abolished in animals that had been treated neonatally with capsaicin, indicating that neuropeptides in sensory nerve endings are involved in this response. Complete inhibition was also achieved by pretreating the animals intraperitoneally with antiserum to corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH). Mast cells in the dura were localized close to nerve processes containing substance P, but no CRH-fibers were identified even though these were found close to mast cells elsewhere in the brain, i.e., in the median eminence. This is the first time that stress is shown to activate intracranial mast cells, apparently through the sequential actions of CRH and one or more sensory neuropeptides such as Substance P. These findings suggest that therapy of neuroinflammatory disorders such as stress-induced migraine headaches, can be achieved with blockers of the physiological actions of CRH or inhibitors of CRH production or secretion.