Characterization of opioid receptors that modulate nociceptive neurotransmission in the trigeminocervical complex

Opioid agonists have been used for many years to treat all forms of headache, including migraine. We sought to characterize opioid receptors involved in craniovascular nociceptive pathways by in vivo microiontophoresis of μ‐receptor agonists and antagonists onto neurons in the trigeminocervical complex of the cat. Cats were anaesthetized with α‐chloralose 60 mg kg −1 , i.p. and 20 mg kg −1 , i.v. supplements after induction and surgical preparation using halothane. Units were identified in the trigeminocervical complex responding to supramaximal electrical stimulation of the superior sagittal sinus, and extracellular recordings of activity made. Seven‐ or nine‐barrelled glass micropipettes incorporating tungsten recording electrodes in their centre barrels were used for microiontophoresis of test substances onto cell bodies. Superior sagittal sinus (SSS)‐linked cells whose firing was evoked by microiontophoretic application of L ‐glutamate ( n =8 cells) were reversibly inhibited by microiontophoresis of H 2 N‐Tyr‐ D ‐Ala‐Gly‐ N ‐Me‐Phe‐Gly‐ol (DAMGO) ( n =12), a selective μ‐receptor agonist, in a dose dependent manner, but not by control ejection of sodium or chloride ions from a barrel containing saline. The inhibition by DAMGO of SSS‐linked neurons activated with L ‐glutamate could be antagonized by microiontophoresis of selective μ‐receptor antagonists D ‐Phe‐Cys‐Tyr‐ D ‐Trp‐Orn‐Thr‐Pen‐Thr‐NH 2 (CTOP) or D ‐Phe‐Cys‐Tyr‐ D ‐Trp‐Arg‐Thr‐Pen‐Thr‐NH 2 (CTAP), or both, in all cells tested ( n =4 and 6, respectively). Local iontophoresis of DAMGO during stimulation of the superior sagittal sinus resulted in a reduction in SSS‐evoked activity. This effect was substantially reversed 10 min after cessation of iontophoresis. The effect of DAMGO was markedly inhibited by co‐iontophoresis of CTAP. Thus, we found that μ‐receptors modulate nociceptive input to the trigeminocervical complex. Characterizing the sub‐types of opioid receptors that influence trigeminovascular nociceptive transmission is an important component to understanding the pharmacology of this synapse, which is pivotal in primary neurovascular headache.British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 138 , 317–324. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705034