Serum Dopamine- -Hydroxylase Activity in Migraine

Abstract

Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was measured during headache-free intervals in 17 patients with migraine and during the headache interval in 16 patients with muscle contraction headache, as well as in 40 normal subjects. The DBH activity was significantly higher in the migraine patients (46.5+/4.5 units) than in the controls (24.9+/2.4 units), whereas no significant difference was observed between the patients with muscle contraction headache (29.4+/4.5 units) and the controls.

Do changes of ANS in migraine subjects play a pathogenetic role?

“…Takeshima et al [38] reported the same conclusion after measuring plasma platelet factor 4 and platelet NA in patients with MwoA and MwA in basal conditions and during the cold-pressor test. Other authors [34,39] found an increase in dopamine β-hydroxylase activity in venous blood of migraineurs during and between attacks and suggested a sympathetic hyperfunction. Urinary excretion of vanillymandelic acid, a reliable index of sympathetic activity, has been found both increased [40] and normal [41] during migraine attacks.…”

Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in acute stroke.

“…Octopamine in the elute was converted to p-hydroxybenzaldehyde by addition of 0.2 ml of 2% NaIO 4 . Excess periodate was reduced by addition of 0.2 ml of 10% NaS 2 O 6 .…”

“…The mean activity of serum DBH in 40 healthy subjects measured by this method in our hands was 24.9 ± 2.4 units (range 2 to 64). 6 Total serum protein was determined by the method of Lowry et al 13 Fig. 1 illustrates typical changes in serum DBH and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity (normal range 0-12 units/ml), total serum protein and the blood pressure of a 68-year-old male patient with cerebral hemorrhage.…”

“…The mean value for control subjects without diagnosed cerebrovascular disease did not change significantly (table 1, value of 25.3 ± 2.6 units for control subjects was close to that of 24.9 ± 2.4 units for 40 healthy subjects. 6 The individual time courses of the level of serum DBH activity in 9 patients with cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage who were in the hospital beyond 2 weeks after stroke, are shown in fig. 3.…”

“…4 ' 6 In clinical studies of migraine, in which a cerebral vasomotor disturbance is known to exist, elevated levels of DBH activity in the circulating blood have been seen in headache-free intervals. 6 In patients with stroke, elevated levels of plasma 7 and urinary catecholamines 8 have been reported during the acute state of cerebrovascular disease, suggesting increased activity in the sympathetic nervous system after ictus. Recent observations 9 of experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage have suggested the possible participation of cerebrovascular nerves in the generalized response of the autonomic nervous system.…”