• R Greco, A S Mangione, F Siani, F Blandini, M Vairetti, G Nappi, G Sandrini, M G Buzzi, and C Tassorelli.
• Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Integrative Autonomic Systems, Headache Science Centre, "C. Mondino" National Neurological Institute, Italy rosaria.greco@mondino.it.
• Cephalalgia. 2014 Jul 1; 34 (8): 594-604.

BackgroundThe release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from trigeminal nerves plays a central role in the pathophysiology of migraine and clinical evidence shows an antimigraine effect for CGRP receptor antagonists. Systemic administration of nitroglycerin (NTG), a nitrovasodilator, consistently provokes spontaneous-like migraine attacks in migraine sufferers; in the rat, systemic NTG induces a condition of hyperalgesia, probably through the activation of cerebral/spinal structures involved in nociceptive transmission.AimThe aim of this article is to test the analgesic effect of the CGRP receptor antagonist MK-8825 in two animal models of pain that may be relevant for migraine: the tail flick test and the formalin test performed during NTG-induced hyperalgesia.ResultsMK-8825 showed analgesic activity when administered alone at both the tail flick test and the formalin test. Furthermore, the CGRP antagonist proved effective in counteracting NTG-induced hyperalgesia in both tests. MK-8825 indeed reduced the nociceptive behavior when administered either simultaneously or prior to (30-60 minutes before) NTG.ConclusionThese data suggest that MK-8825 may represent a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of migraine.© International Headache Society 2013 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

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