Dural plasma extravasation produced by electrical stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion was measured in rats and the concomitant expression of c fos mRNA produced in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (NtV) was measured using in situ hybridization techniques. The non-peptide NK1 receptor selective antagonist CP-99,994 (1-3000 mu g kg(-1)) and the 5HT(1D) receptor agonist sumatriptan (1-1000 mu g kg(-1)) reduced dural plasma extravasation dose-dependently with ID(50)s of 52 mu g kg(-1) and 30 mu g kg(-1) respectively. CP-99,994 (1000 mu g kg(-1)), a compound known to have good brain penetration, decreased c-fos mRNA expression in the NtV by 37 +/- 7% without disruption of the blood brain barrier (BBB). Sumatriptan (1000 mu g kg(-1)), known to be poorly brain penetrant, had no significant effect on c-fos mRNA expression in the NtV unless the BBB was disrupted by infusion of a hyperosmolar mannitol solution after which sumatriptan decreased c-fos mRNA expression by 65 +/- 11%. The results suggest that brain penetrant NK1 receptor antagonists may have anti-migraine effects peripherally through blockade of dural extravasation and centrally by inhibition of nociceptive pathways. Furthermore the data indicates that the anti-migraine action of sumatriptan must be predominantly peripherally mediated, be it via inhibition of plasma extravasation or direct vasoconstriction, since it had little effect on the activation of neurones in the NtV unless the BBB was disrupted.
