Abstract
BACKGROUND: Calcitonin gene-related peptide and its receptor, consisting of receptor activity-modifying protein 1 and calcitonin receptor-like receptor, are of considerable interest because of the role they play in migraine and recently developed migraine therapies.
METHODS: To better understand the function of this neuropeptide, we used immunohistochemistry to determine a detailed distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide, receptor activity-modifying protein 1 and calcitonin receptor-like receptor in the rat brain in a region of 0.5-1.5 mm lateral to the midline. We found calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in most of the neurons of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, thalamic nuclei, hypothalamic nuclei and brainstem nuclei. In contrast, receptor activity-modifying protein 1 and calcitonin receptor-like receptor immunoreactivity were found almost exclusively in the neuronal processes in the investigated regions.
CONCLUSION: Overall, the degree of expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor components in the central nervous system is astonishingly complex and suggestive of many different brain functions, including a possible role in migraine. However, currently, the presence of calcitonin gene-related peptide and the nature of its receptors throughout the brain is an enigma yet to be solved.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Pages (from-to) | 342-353 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| ISSN | 0333-1024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2019 |