ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the mechanism of P/Q-type calcium channel in nitroglycerin induced migraine experimental model Methods Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats ( half female and half male) were randomly divided into control group and model group. The model of migraine rats was reproduced using Tasserelli Cristina method that wassubcutaneou injection of GTN of 10 mg/kg, once a week for four weeks. After the model of migraine had been established, trigeminal ganglion and trigeminocervical complex and cortex of frontal lobe were removed and the expressions of P/Q-type calcium channel were detected by RT- PCR and Western-blot, and at the same time the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ was investigated by Fluo- 3/AM fluorometric method. Results Compared with the control group, the expression of mRNA and protein of P/Q-type calcium channel of trigeminal ganglion and trigeminocervical complex (mRNA: 0. 472 36± 0. 049 54; protein: 0. 337 25 ± 0. 035 93 ) and cortex of frontal lobe ( mRNA: 0. 547 45 ± 0. 044 39 ; protein : 0. 402 13 ± 0. 029 83) in model group all upregulated (t = 2. 6697, 3. 1993, 3. 4398 and 3. 7661, all P <0. 05), at the same time the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ in model group increased (211 182 ± 12 973 vs 135 243 ± 18 105 in trigeminal ganglion and trigeminocervical complex; 186 511 ± 18 297 vs 143 289±25 175 in cortex of frontal lobe. t =10.7819 and 4. 3917, beth P<0.05). Conclusions P/Q- type calcium channel may play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine via its upregulated expression.