Influence of ovarian hormones on occurrence of cortical spreading depression and its suppression of by L-kynurenine in rat

Background Migraine is sexually dimorphic and associated in 20% of patients with an aura of which cortical spreading depression (CSD) is the most likely cause. We have previously shown that CSD is suppressed by L-kynurenine (L-KYN), the precursor of kynurenic acid and that this effect depends on the stage of the estrous cycle in female rats [1].