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The trigeminovascular system in bacterial meningitis
Author(s) -
Hoffmann Olaf,
Dirnagl Ulrich,
Weber Joerg R.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.1083
Subject(s) - meninges , meningitis , stimulation , neuroscience , bacterial meningitis , medicine , neuropeptide , proinflammatory cytokine , immunology , inflammation , biology , surgery , receptor
Headache as a cardinal symptom of acute meningitis reflects activation of trigeminal afferents from the meninges. With their perivascular endings, these fibers form the so‐called trigeminovascular system (TVS), which releases proinflammatory neuropeptides upon nociceptive stimulation. In the present article, we review a role of the TVS in enhancing the early inflammatory response of bacterial meningitis. Furthermore, we discuss inhibition of neuropeptide release from the TVS using 5HT 1B/D agonists as a potential new anti‐inflammatory treatment strategy for early bacterial meningitis. Microsc. Res. Tech. 53:188–192, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.