Enrichment of a vasoactive neuropeptide (calcitonin gene related peptide) in the trigeminal sensory projection to the intracranial arteries.

Trigeminal sensory innervation of cerebral vessels and the surrounding dura is responsible for most intracranial head pain. Small-diameter fibers containing substance P (Sub P) have been observed in the periadventitia around feline cerebral blood vessels, and it has been suggested that these fibers are the trigeminal substrate for vascular pain associated with cluster and migraine headaches. Calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) coexists with Sub P in some of these fibers and with some Sub P containing neurons in the trigeminal ganglion. In addition, a population of trigeminal neurons containing CGRP but not Sub P has been observed. We now report that the population of trigeminal ganglion cells projecting to the cerebral vasculature is enriched in CGRP-containing neurons, and especially in the population of neurons containing CGRP and not Sub P. Using retrograde tracing of fluorescent tracers combined with immunocytochemistry after explant culture, we found approximately 32% of trigeminal ganglion cells projecting to the cerebral vasculature contained CGRP. Approximately 18 and 17% of these cells contained Sub P and cholecystokinin (CCK), respectively. The 32% of ganglion cells projecting to the cerebral vasculature that contain CGRP stands in contrast to the 12% CGRP positive seen in the population of ganglion cells projecting out to another target (the forehead), and the 21 and 23% CGRP positive observed in the mandibular branch and entire ganglion, respectively. Sub P and CCK are not enriched in the trigeminal innervation of the vasculature compared with their presence in cells throughout the ganglia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)