CEREBRAL DURA-MATER AND CEPHALALGIA - RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MAST-CELLS AND CATECHOLAMINERGIC NERVE-FIBERS IN THE RAT

The aim of the present study was to examine whether mast cells have th e same variations as the related catecholaminergic nerve fibers. Chemi cal sympathectomy or surgical removal of right superior cervical gangl ion induced a rapid decrease of fluorescence in both nerve fibers and mast cells, as confirmed by quantitative analysis (nerve fibers 19+/-1 .1 vs 1.3+/-0.6; mast cell 10.8+/-1.9 vs 2.1+/-0.3). The results of qu antitative analysis after nerve fiber stimulation (electrical), howeve r, showed an increase of the fluorescence in both the nerve fibers and the mast cells (nerve fibers 43.4+/-2.4 mast cells 18.6+/-1.6). Moreo ver, we found that the basal zone is more innervated (regarding catech olaminergic nerve fibers) than the apical one, and that the fluorescen ce level decreases passing from the vasal zone to the perivasal and in tervasal zones. Further studies are needed in order to clarify the rol e of fluorescent nerve fibers and mast cells of cerebral dura mater in cephalalgia.