Pharmacological evidence that spinal α2C- and, to a lesser extent, α2A-adrenoceptors inhibit capsaicin-induced vasodilatation in the canine external carotid circulation

During a migraine attack capsaicin-sensitive trigeminal sensory nerves release calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), producing cranial vasodilatation and central nociception; hence, trigeminal inhibition may prevent this vasodilatation and abort migraine headache. This study investigated the role of spinal α2-adrenoceptors and their subtypes (i.e. α2A, α2B and/or α2C-adrenoceptors) in the inhibition of the canine external carotid vasodilator responses to capsaicin. Anaesthetized vagosympathectomized dogs were prepared to measure arterial blood pressure, heart rate and external carotid conductance. The thyroid artery was cannulated for one-min intracarotid infusions of capsaicin, α-CGRP and acetylcholine. A cannula was inserted intrathecally for spinal (C1-C3) administration of 2-amino-6-ethyl-4,5,7,8-tetrahydro-6H-oxazolo-[5,4-d]-azepin-dihydrochloride (B-HT 933; a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist) and/or the α2-adrenoceptor antagonists rauwolscine (α2A/2B/2C), 2-[(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl]-2,3-dihydro-1-methyl-1H-isoindole maleate (BRL44408; α2A), imiloxan (α2B) or acridin-9-yl-[4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]amine (JP-1302; α2C). Infusions of capsaicin, α-CGRP and acetylcholine dose-dependently increased the external carotid conductance. Intrathecal B-HT 933 (1000 and 3100 μg) inhibited the vasodilator responses to capsaicin, but not those to α-CGRP or acetylcholine. This inhibition, abolished by rauwolscine (310 μg), was: (i) unaffected by 3100 μg imiloxan; (ii) partially blocked by 310 μg of BRL44408 or 100 μg of JP-1302; and (iii) abolished by 1000 μg of BRL44408 or 310 μg of JP-1302. Thus, intrathecal B-HT 933 inhibited the external carotid vasodilator responses to capsaicin. This response, mediated by spinal α2-adrenoceptors unrelated to the α2B-adrenoceptor subtype, resembles the pharmacological profile of α2C-adrenoceptors and, to a lesser extent, α2A-adrenoceptors.