Displaying all 3 publications

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Fan PC, Lee MT, Lai TH, Huang WJ, Chiou LC
    Pharm Res, 2025 Jun;42(6):1035-1045.
    PMID: 40346415 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-025-03864-w
    BACKGROUND: Hispidulin (6-methoxy-4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid commonly found in various plant products, including the leaves of Clerodendrum inerme (L.) Gaertn (CI). While there's an abundance of literature describing the therapeutic effect of hispidulin and CI in oncological, immunological, and dermatological models, their effect on neuropsychiatric disorders is also of research interest.

    OBJECTIVE: The previous reports on the neuroprotective and GABAA receptor positive modulatory effect of hispidulin may render it as a possible novel candidate as an antimigraine agent.

    METHODS: In the present study, we employed the intracisternal instillation of capsaicin in anesthetized rats to induce the activation of trigeminovascular system (TGVS), which mimics the histopathological hallmarks of migraine that include increased neuronal activation in the trigeminal cervical complex (TCC), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) and CGRP depletion in the dura mater.

    RESULTS: Administration of hispidulin (4, 10, and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced all three TGVS activation parameters induced by i.c. capsaicin. However, pre-treatment of a selective antagonist for α6 subunit-containing GABAA receptor, furosemide (20 mg/kg, i.p.), did not significantly reverse the antimigraine effect of hispidulin.

    CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on hispidulin's suppressive effect on preclinical model of migraine. Further studies are required to explore the mechanism(s) of the antimigraine effect of hispidulin. However, these findings could potentially guide future clinical studies of hispidulin, with the aim of improving human health.

    Matched MeSH terms: Trigeminal Ganglion/drug effects
  2. Tzeng HR, Lee MT, Fan PC, Knutson DE, Lai TH, Sieghart W, et al.
    Neurotherapeutics, 2021 Jan;18(1):569-585.
    PMID: 33111258 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00951-1
    Migraine is caused by hyperactivity of the trigeminovascular system, where trigeminal ganglia (TG) play an important role. This hyperactivity might originate from an underfunctional GABAergic system in TG. To investigate this possibility, we adapted a mouse model of migraine by inducing migraine-like grimaces in male mice via repeated injections of nitroglycerin (NTG, 10 mg/kg, i.p.), once every 2 days, for up to 5 sessions. Migraine-like facial pain scores were measured using the mouse grimace scale. Repeated NTG treatments in mice caused significant increases in migraine-like grimaces that were aborted and prevented by two anti-migraine agents sumatriptan and topiramate, respectively. After 5 sessions of NTG injections, the GABA-synthesizing enzyme, 65-kDa glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65), but not the GABA transporter 1 (GAT1) or the α6 subunit-containing GABAA receptors (α6GABAARs), was downregulated in mouse TG tissues. Taking advantage of the unaffected TG α6GABAAR expression in NTG-treated mice, we demonstrated that an α6GABAAR-selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM), DK-I-56-1, exhibited both abortive and prophylactic effects, comparable to those of sumatriptan and topiramate, respectively, in this migraine-mimicking mouse model. The brain-impermeable furosemide significantly prevented the effects of DK-I-56-1, suggesting its peripheral site of action, likely via preventing α6GABAAR modulation in TG. Results suggest that a decreased GABA synthesis caused by the reduced GAD65 expression in TG contributes to the trigeminovascular activation in this repeated NTG-induced migraine-mimicking model and that the unaltered α6GABAARs in TG are potential targets for migraine treatment. Thus, α6GABAAR-selective PAMs are potential anti-migraine agents for both abortive and preventive therapies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Trigeminal Ganglion/drug effects*
  3. Fan PC, Lai TH, Hor CC, Lee MT, Huang P, Sieghart W, et al.
    Neuropharmacology, 2018 09 15;140:1-13.
    PMID: 30016665 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.07.017
    Novel treatments against migraine are an urgent medical requirement. The α6 subunit-containing GABAA receptors (α6GABAARs) are expressed in trigeminal ganglia (TG), the hub of the trigeminal vascular system (TGVS) that is involved in the pathogenesis of migraine. Here we reveal an unprecedented role of α6GABAARs in ameliorating TGVS activation using several pharmacological approaches in an animal model mimicking pathological changes in migraine. TGVS activation was induced by intra-cisternal (i.c.) instillation of capsaicin in Wistar rats. Centrally, i.c. capsaicin activated the trigeminal cervical complex (TCC) measured by the increased number of c-Fos-immunoreactive (c-Fos-ir) TCC neurons. Peripherally, it elevated calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity (CGRP-ir) in TG and depleted CGRP-ir in the dura mater. Pharmacological approaches included a recently identified α6GABAAR-selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM), the pyrazoloquinolinone Compound 6, two α6GABAAR-active PAMs (Ro15-4513 and loreclezole), an α6GABAAR-inactive benzodiazepine (diazepam), an α6GABAAR-selective antagonist (furosemide), and a clinically effective antimigraine agent (topiramate). We examined effects of these compounds on both central and peripheral TGVS responses induced by i.c. capsaicin. Compound 6 (3-10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly attenuated the TCC neuronal activation and TG CGRP-ir elevation, and dural CGRP depletion induced by capsaicin. All these effects of Compound 6 were mimicked by topiramate, Ro15-4513 and loreclezole, but not by diazepam. The brain-impermeable furosemide antagonized the peripheral, but not central, effects of Compound 6. These results suggest that the α6GABAAR in TG is a novel drug target for TGVS activation and that α6GABAAR-selective PAMs have the potential to be developed as a novel pharmacotherapy for migraine.
    Matched MeSH terms: Trigeminal Ganglion/drug effects*
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links