ROLE OF ENDOTHELIN IN MEDIATING NEUROGENIC PLASMA EXTRAVASATION IN RAT DURA-MATER

In addition to their potent vasoconstrictor properties, the endothelin s (endothelin-l and -3) may possess neurotransmitter/neuromediator and neuroendocrine actions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of endothelins (ET) in mediating neurogenic inflammation of c ephalic tissues in the rat. For this purpose, bosentan, a specific non -peptide mixed antagonist of ET receptors, was tested in rat models of neurogenic and non-neurogenic plasma extravasation in the dura mater and extracranial tissues (eyelid, conjunctiva, lip, tongue). Bosentan was effective for preventing neurogenic inflammation in the dura mater induced by unilateral electrical stimulation of the trigeminal gangli on or intravenous injection of capsaicin, whereas it was ineffective i n extracranial tissues or after injection of substance P (non-neurogen ic inflammation). The effect of nerve fiber stimulation on ET plasma c oncentrations in superior sagittal sinus was measured using selective radioimmunoassays for ET-1 and -3. Endothelin-3 concentration signific antly increased after intravenous injection of capsaicin, whereas ET-1 levels remained unchanged. Competition binding assays on microsomal m embranes from the trigeminal ganglion revealed a single class of bindi ng sites with equal affinity for ET-1 and ET-3, suggesting a homogenou s population of ET receptors. The role of ET(B) receptors in mediating inflammation was evidenced by the lack of efficacy of a selective ET( A) receptor antagonist, in contrast to the full efficacy of a selectiv e ET(B) receptor antagonist, for preventing neurogenic inflammation in duced by unilateral stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion. The role o f ET(B) receptors was finally confirmed by the observation that exogen ous administration of the ET(B) receptor agonist sarafotoxin S6c also induced plasma protein extravasation in the dura mater. This extravasa tion was not a direct effect of ET(B) receptor stimulation, because it was inhibited by spantide, a selective tachykinin receptor antagonist . These data strongly suggest that ET, acting through ET(B) receptors, may play an important role in mediating neurogenic inflammation in th e meninges of rats. Since the profile of activity of bosentan is simil ar to that of the 5-HTID/B agonists, sumatriptan and ergot alkaloids, one may speculate that ET receptor antagonists might be potentially ef fective in the treatment of acute migraine attacks.