ABSTRACT
Objectiye To investigate the possible mechanism of sumatriptan in treating migraine.Methods Migraine model rat was electrically stimulated at cerebral dura mater in superior sagittal sinus (SSS) to induce migraine.Each of 10 male SD rats were randomly selected into groups of normal control (no intervention), pseudo-stimulation group ( no electrical stimulation), stimulation group ( no treatment after stimulation), saline group (treated with saline after migraine stimulation ) and sumatriptan group ( treated with sumatriptan after migraine stimulation).The neurons expressing NF-κB in periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) were evaluated in each group by immnunostaining.Results The numbers of NF-κB immunoreactive positive neurons were 179.5 ± 14.9 in sumatriptan group, 497.8 ± 20.6 in saline group,508.7 ± 30.8 in stimulation group, 112.9 ± 10.7 in pseudo-stimulation group and 111.7 ± 15.7 in normal group.The stimulation group was higher than normal group, pseudo-stimulation group and sumatriptan group (F=944.78, P <0.05).Conclusions The NF-κB positive neurons were activated in the PAG by electric stimulation of the dura mater near the SSS.Sumatriptan can reduce the expression of NF-κB protein.