Effects and mechanisms of Liujing Toutong Tablets on migraine of rats / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate effect and mechanisms of Liujing Toutong Tablets (LTT) on migraine model rats. Methods Rats were sc injected with nitroglycerin to establish migraine model, effect of LTT on scratching latency and frequency of migraine model rats was investigated; 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) in brain tissue were detected; And β-endorphin (β-EP), calcitonin gene related pepitde (CGRP), and endothelin (ET) in serum were examined by ELISA; The content of nitric oxide (NO) and activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in serum were examined. Results After sc injected with nitroglycerin in 1 to 3 min, the rats in model group began to scratch its head frequently, scratching latency of rats in high- and low- dose (1.4 and 0.7 g/kg) of LTT group was extended (P < 0.01) and scratching frequency was decreased (P < 0.001); The content of β-EP and ET in serum and DA in brain tissue of rats in high- and low-dose (1.4 and 0.7 g/kg) of LTT group were increased (P < 0.05, 0.01, 0.001), and the content of CGRP and the activity of NOS in serum were decreased (P < 0.05). The content of 5-HT and NE in brain tissue of rats in high- and low- dose (1.4 and 0.7 g/kg) of LTT group had no significant change. Conclusion LTT has a significant therapeutic effect on migraine, and could inhibit contractile response of vascular. The mechanisms may be connected with increasing content of β-EP, ET, DA and decreasing content of CGRP and the activity of NOS.