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Abnormal neurovascular coupling as a cause of excess cerebral vasodilation in familial migraine
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Abnormal neurovascular coupling as a cause of excess cerebral vasodilation in familial migraine

Christian Staehr, Rajkumar Rajanathan, Dmitry D Postnov, Lise Hangaard, Elena V Bouzinova, Karin Lykke-Hartmann, Flemming W Bach, Shaun L Sandow, Christian Aalkjaer and Vladimir V Matchkov
Cardiovascular Research, Vol.116(12), pp.2009-2020
2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvz306
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Abstract

endothelium inward-rectifying K+ channels migraine Na K-ATPase neurovascular coupling cerebral perfusion
Aims: Acute migraine attack in familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 (FHM2) patients is characterized by sequential hypo- and hyperperfusion. FHM2 is associated with mutations in the Na,K-ATPase α2 isoform. Heterozygous mice bearing one of these mutations (α2+/G301R) were shown to have elevated cerebrovascular tone and, thus, hypoperfusion that might lead to elevated concentrations of local metabolites. We hypothesize that these α2+/G301R mice also have increased cerebrovascular hyperemic responses to these local metabolites leading to hyperperfusion in the affected part of the brain. Methods and Results: Neurovascular coupling was compared in α2+/G301R and matching wild type (WT) mice using Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging. In brain slices, parenchymal arteriole diameter and intracellular calcium changes in neuronal tissue, astrocytic endfeet and smooth muscle cells in response to neuronal excitation were assessed. Wall tension and smooth muscle membrane potential were measured in isolated middle cerebral arteries. Quantitative PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to assess the molecular background underlying the functional changes. Whisker stimulation induced larger increase in blood perfusion, i.e. hyperemic response, of the somatosensory cortex of α2+/G301R than WT mice. Neuronal excitation was associated with larger parenchymal arteriole dilation in brain slices from α2+/G301R than WT mice. These hyperemic responses in vivo and ex vivo were inhibited by BaCl2, suggesting involvement of inward-rectifying K+ channels (Kir). Relaxation to elevated bath K+ was larger in arteries from α2+/G301R compared to WT mice. This difference was endothelium-dependent. Endothelial Kir2.1 channel expression was higher in arteries from α2+/G301R mice. No sex difference in functional responses and Kir2.1 expression was found. Conclusions: This study suggests that an abnormally high cerebrovascular hyperemic response in α2+/G301R mice is a result of increased endothelial Kir2.1 channel expression. This may be initiated by vasospasm-induced accumulation of local metabolites and underlie the hyperperfusion seen in FHM2 patients during migraine attack.

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