Responses of spinal trigeminal neurons to noxious stimulation of paranasal cavities – a rat model of rhinosinusitis headache

Koch M, Sertel-Nakajima J, Meßlinger K (2020)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

DOI: 10.1177/0333102420970467

Abstract

Background: The pathophysiology of headaches associated with rhinosinusitis is poorly known. Since the generation of headaches is thought to be linked to the activation of intracranial afferents, we used an animal model to characterise spinal trigeminal neurons with nociceptive input from the dura mater and paranasal sinuses. Methods: In isoflurane anaesthetised rats, extracellular recordings were made from neurons in the spinal trigeminal nucleus with afferent input from the exposed frontal dura mater. Dural and facial receptive fields were mapped and the paranasal cavities below the thinned nasal bone were stimulated by sequential application of synthetic interstitial fluid, 40 mM potassium chloride, 100 µM bradykinin, 1% ethanol (vehicle) and 100 µm capsaicin. Results: Twenty-five neurons with input from the frontal dura mater and responses to chemical stimulation of the paranasal cavities were identified. Some of these neurons had additional receptive fields in the parietal dura, most of them in the face. The administration of synthetic interstitial fluid, potassium chloride and ethanol was not followed by significant changes in activity, but bradykinin provoked a cluster of action potentials in 20 and capsaicin in 23 neurons. Conclusion: Specific spinal trigeminal neurons with afferent input from the cranial dura mater respond to stimulation of paranasal cavities with noxious agents like bradykinin and capsaicin. This pattern of activation may be due to convergent input of trigeminal afferents that innervate dura mater and nasal cavities and project to spinal trigeminal neurons, which could explain the genesis of headaches due to disorders of paranasal sinuses.

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How to cite

APA:

Koch, M., Sertel-Nakajima, J., & Meßlinger, K. (2020). Responses of spinal trigeminal neurons to noxious stimulation of paranasal cavities – a rat model of rhinosinusitis headache. Cephalalgia. https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102420970467

MLA:

Koch, Michael, Julika Sertel-Nakajima, and Karl Meßlinger. "Responses of spinal trigeminal neurons to noxious stimulation of paranasal cavities – a rat model of rhinosinusitis headache." Cephalalgia (2020).

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