Role of endothelin in mediating neurogenic plasma extravasation in rat dura mater

• Published in: Pain (Amsterdam) Vol. 64; no. 2; pp. 315 - 322
• Main Authors: Brändli, Peter, Löffler, Bernd-Michael, Breu, Volker, Osterwalder, Rolf, Maire, Jean-Paul, Clozel, Martine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.02.1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Proteins - metabolism; Bosentan; Brain Chemistry - drug effects; Brain Chemistry - physiology; Capillary Permeability - drug effects; Capillary Permeability - physiology; Cerebral circulation. Blood-brain barrier. Choroid plexus. Cerebrospinal fluid. Circumventricular organ. Meninges; Dura Mater - drug effects; Dura Mater - physiology; Electric Stimulation; Endothelin; Endothelin receptor; Endothelin receptor antagonist; Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; Endothelins - metabolism; Endothelins - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Male; Neurogenic inflammation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Substance P - pharmacology; Sulfonamides; Trigeminal Ganglion - drug effects; Trigeminal Ganglion - metabolism; Trigeminal Ganglion - physiology; Trigeminovascular system; Vasoconstrictor Agents - pharmacology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Viper Venoms - pharmacology; Endothelin; Bosentan; Neurogenic inflammation; Endothelin receptor antagonist; Endothelin receptor; Trigeminovascular system; Meninge; Rat; Migraine; Rodentia; Blood plasma; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Extravasation; Peptidergic receptor; Dura mater; Antagonist
• ISSN: 0304-3959; 1872-6623
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(95)00106-9

In addition to their potent vasoconstrictor properties, the endothelins (endothelin-1 and -3) may possess neurotransmitter/neuromediator and neuroendocrine actions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of endothelins (ET) in mediating neurogenic inflammation of cephalic tissues in the rat. For this purpose, bosentan, a specific non-peptide mixed antagonist of ET receptors, was tested in rat models of neurogenic and non-neurogenic plasma extravasation in the dura mater and extracranial tissues (eyelid, conjunctiva, lip, tongue). Bosentan was effective for preventing neurogenic inflammation in the dura mater induced by unilateral electrical stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion or intravenous injection of capsaicin, whereas it was ineffective in extracranial tissues or after injection of substance P (non-neurogenic inflammation). The effect of nerve fiber stimulation on ET plasma concentrations in superior sagittal sinus was measured using selective radioimmunoassays for ET-1 and -3. Endothelin-3 concentration significantly increased after intravenous injection of capsaicin, whereas ET-1 levels remained unchanged. Competition binding assays on microsomal membranes from the trigeminal ganglion revealed a single class of binding sites with equal affinity for ET-1 and ET-3, suggesting a homogenous population of ET B receptors. The role of ET B receptors in mediating inflammation was evidenced by the lack of efficacy of a selective ET A receptor antagonist, in contrast to the full efficacy of a selective ET B receptor antagonist, for preventing neurogenic inflammation induced by unilateral stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion. The role of ET B receptors was finally confirmed by the observation that exogenous administration of the ET B receptor agonist sarafotoxin S6c also induced plasma protein extravasation in the dura mater. This extravasation was not a direct effect of ET B receptor stimulation, because it was inhibited by spantide, a selective tachykinin receptor antagonist. These data strongly suggest that ET, acting through ET B receptors, may play an important role in mediating neurogenic inflammation in the meninges of rats. Since the profile of activity of bosentan is similar to that of the 5- HT 1 D B agonists, sumatriptan and ergot alkaloios, one may speculate that ET receptor antagonists might be potentially effective in the treatment of acute migraine attacks.