Cyclic AMP(CAMP) accumulation induced by isoproterenol (IP) and forsko
lin in intact lymphocytes was determined in 12 patients with migraine
and 12 healthy controls. Our data showed that IP CAMP accumulation (8.
20 + 1.08 Pmol/mllion cells) was significantly (P = 0.033) lower than
accumulation in the controls (14.39 + 2.44 Pmol/million cells). Forsko
lin-induced CAMP did not differ in the two groups. These findings supp
ort the association of migraine and a reduced lymphocyte beta-adrenerg
ic receptor sensitivity. An alteration in lymphocyte beta-adrenergic r
eceptor may reflect similar changes in central beta-adrenergic functio
n and may be used as a probe to evaluate its activity.