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The Journal of Headache and Pain
Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Frequent mild head injury promotes trigeminal sensitivity concomitant with microglial proliferation, astrocytosis, and increased neuropeptide levels in the trigeminal pain system

Authors: Ashley L. Tyburski, Lan Cheng, Soroush Assari, Kurosh Darvish, Melanie B. Elliott

Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Frequent mild head injuries or concussion along with the presence of headache may contribute to the persistence of concussion symptoms.

Methods

In this study, the acute effects of recovery between mild head injuries and the frequency of injuries on a headache behavior, trigeminal allodynia, was assessed using von Frey testing up to one week after injury, while histopathological changes in the trigeminal pain pathway were evaluated using western blot, ELISA and immunohistochemistry. 

Results

A decreased recovery time combined with an increased mild closed head injury (CHI) frequency results in reduced trigeminal allodynia thresholds compared to controls. The repetitive CHI group with the highest injury frequency showed the greatest reduction in trigeminal thresholds along with greatest increased levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. Repetitive CHI resulted in astrogliosis in the central trigeminal system, increased GFAP protein levels in the sensory barrel cortex, and an increased number of microglia cells in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis.

Conclusions

Headache behavior in rats is dependent on the injury frequency and recovery interval between mild head injuries. A worsening of headache behavior after repetitive mild head injuries was concomitant with increases in CGRP levels, the presence of astrocytosis, and microglia proliferation in the central trigeminal pathway. Signaling between neurons and proliferating microglia in the trigeminal pain system may contribute to the initiation of acute headache after concussion or other traumatic brain injuries.
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Metadata
Title
Frequent mild head injury promotes trigeminal sensitivity concomitant with microglial proliferation, astrocytosis, and increased neuropeptide levels in the trigeminal pain system
Authors
Ashley L. Tyburski
Lan Cheng
Soroush Assari
Kurosh Darvish
Melanie B. Elliott
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
The Journal of Headache and Pain / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1129-2369
Electronic ISSN: 1129-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-017-0726-1

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