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Role of 5‐HT 1 ‐like receptors in the reduction of porcine cranial arteriovenous anastomotic shunting by sumatriptan
Author(s) -
Boer Marinus O.,
Villalón Carlos M.,
Heiligers Jan P.C.,
Humphrey Patrick P.A.,
Saxena Pramod R.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1991.tb12173.x
Subject(s) - sumatriptan , arteriovenous anastomosis , medicine , vasoconstriction , anesthesia , blood flow , vasodilation , anastomosis , receptor , surgery , agonist
1 The new tryptamine derivative sumatriptan (GR43175) is effective in the treatment of migraine. Since several antimigraine agents reduce cranial arteriovenous anastomotic blood flow in the anaesthetized pig, we have investigated the carotid haemodynamic effects of sumatriptan. 2 Sumatriptan (10, 30, 100 and 300 μg kg −1 , i.v.) reduced total common carotid blood flow, exclusively by affecting its arteriovenous anastomotic fraction; the capillary fraction even increased with the highest doses. 3 These reductions in the carotid arteriovenous anastomotic (‘shunt’) blood flow were mediated by a 5‐HT 1 ‐like receptor, as methiothepin, but not ketanserin, antagonized the responses to sumatriptan. 4 Sumatriptan increased the difference in oxygen saturation between arterial and jugular venous blood, which is likely to be a consequence of the reduction of the carotid shunt blood flow. 5 The selective reduction in arteriovenous anastomotic blood flow produced by sumatriptan may reflect its antimigraine action, thought to involve vasoconstriction of those cranial vessels, be they ‘shunt’ vessels or not, which are distended and inflamed during a migraine attack.