Migraine: Experimental Models and Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Abstract

Migraine is a disorder affecting an increasing number of subjects. Currently, this disorder is not entirely understood, and limited therapeutic solutions are available. Migraine manifests as a debilitating headache associated with an altered sensory perception that may compromise the quality of life. Animal models have been developed using chemical, physical or genetic modifications, to evoke migraine-like hallmarks for the identification of novel molecules for the treatment of migraine. In this context, experimental models based on the use of chemicals as nitroglycerin or inflammatory soup were extensively used to mimic the acute state and the chronicity of the disorder. This manuscript is aimed to provide an overview of murine models used to investigate migraine pathophysiology. Pharmacological targets as 5-HT and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptors were evaluated for their relevance in the development of migraine therapeutics. Drug delivery systems using nanoparticles may be helpful for the enhancement of the brain targeting and bioavailability of anti-migraine drugs as triptans. In conclusion, the progresses in migraine management have been reached with the development of emerging agonists of 5-HT receptors and novel antagonists of CGRP receptors. The nanoformulations may represent a future perspective in which already known anti-migraine drugs showed to better exert their therapeutic effects.

Microemulsion-Based Media in Nose-to-Brain Drug Delivery

“…Tosymra ® (Upsher-Smith) [ 178 ]. However, the studies aiming at the development of novel carriers for antimigraine drugs and the improvement or modification the therapeutic effect are still gaining a lot of interest [ 179 ]. Vyas et al [ 180 ] presented investigations focused on microemulsion loaded with sumatriptan and sumatriptan succinate, serotonin agonists commonly applied in the treatment of migraine attacks.…”

The Inclusion of Tolfenamic Acid into Cyclodextrins Stimulated by Microenvironmental pH Modification as a Way to Increase the Anti-Migraine Effect

“…These drugs act via the inhibition of cyclooxygenases (COXs) – enzymes responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandins and they are still the most commonly prescribed drugs for analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory purposes. 2 Prostaglandins (PGs) are widely distributed in the trigeminal-vascular system, and their receptors are localized in the trigeminal ganglion and the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. 3 Sterile inflammatory state within the intracranial meninges, also referred to as neurogenic inflammation is a key phenomenon underlying migraine.…”

Advantages of imaging photoplethysmography for migraine modeling: new optical markers of trigemino‐vascular activation in rats

“…It is clear that the search for new treatments requires a preclinical phase. During this phase, experiments based on animal migraine models, which allow to transfer the experiment data to clinical practice with a certain degree of confidence, are rather productive [ 15 – 17 ].…”