Sympathetic innervation of the supratentorial dura mater of the rat

Abstract

The origin, density, and distribution of sympathetic nerve fibers in the supratentorial dura mater of the rat were examined in detail in the current study by using wheat germ agglutinin horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) retrograde tracing procedures, glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence, and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) immunocytochemical staining of dural whole mount preparations. Application of WGA-HRP to the superior sagittal sinus and adjacent areas of the supratentorial dura mater labeled numerous neurons in each of the left and right superior cervical ganglia. Glyoxylic acid and DBH immunocytochemical staining of fixed dural whole mount preparations revealed prominent plexuses of sympathetic nerves about the middle meningeal artery and its branches, about the superior sagittal and transverse sinuses, and "free" within the dura mater, i.e., apparently unassociated with any vasculature. Significantly, in all of these areas, the density of sympathetic innervation revealed in this study was considerably greater than that previously demonstrated by other workers. An impressive population of mast cells also was observed within the dura mater of the glyoxylic acid-treated preparations. The majority of these cells were perivascular; however, a significant number were also present within the dura unrelated to the vasculature, and occasional cells were seen in close apposition to fluorescent sympathetic nerve fibers. Taken together, the identification of a robust sympathetic plexus and prominent mast cell population associated with a dura mater that also receives significant sensory projections from the trigeminal system raises interest regarding the functional interactions of these elements. These observations warrant further consideration regarding their role in the pathogenesis of vascular headache and head pain.

Evidence for Selective Effects of Chronic Hypertension on Cerebral Artery Vasodilatation to Protease-Activated Receptor-2 Activation

“…First, in contrast to peripheral vessels, where mast cells are commonly found in the adventitia, in cerebral vessels they are mainly restricted to the microvasculature of the dura and meninges. 38,39 Similarly, in this study we could not detect any mast cells surrounding the basilar artery in the rat (J.D. Moffatt, PhD, unpublished data, 1998).…”

Comparison of the Effects of Central and Peripheral Dopamine Receptor Activation on Evoked Firing in the Trigeminocervical Complex

“…Norepinephrine is a major sympathetic neurotransmitter, and it acts on both ␣-and ␤-adrenergic receptors, which can be found in blood vessel walls (Keller et al, 1989). A study of the external carotid circulation illustrated that intravenous dopamine caused vasoconstriction, but when applied with ␣-adrenoreceptor antagonist phentolamine, vasodilation occurred (Villalón et al, 2003).…”

Increase of meningeal blood flow after electrical stimulation of rat dura mater encephali: mediation by calcitonin gene‐related peptide

“…Additionally, speciesspecific differences in the effectiveness of substance P may contribute to these discrepancies. Sympathetic and parasympathetic contribution to blood flow response It may be argued that electrical stimulation of the dural surface also activates other than afferent fibres, since the dura mater encephali of the rat is richly innervated by sympathetic nerve fibres (Keller et al, 1989) and shows additionally some cholinergic fibres indicative of a parasympathetic innervation (Amenta et al, 1980). Stimulation of the sympathetic nerves would probably decrease the dural blood flow by releasing catecholamines which would cause constriction of blood vessels.…”