Brainstem changes in 5-HT1A receptor availability during migraine attack

Background: Among serotonin receptors, 5-HT1A receptors are implicated in the regulation of central serotoninergic tone and could be involved in the abnormal brain 5-HT turnover suspected in migraineurs. The aim of this study was to investigate 5-HT1A receptors’ availability during migraine attacks.Methods: Ten patients suffering from odor-triggered migraine attacks and 10 control subjects were investigated using positron emission tomography (PET) and [18F]MPPF PET tracer, a selective 5-HT1A antagonist. All subjects underwent calibrated olfactory stimulations prior to the PET study.Results: Four patients developed a migraine attack during the PET study. In these patients, statistical parametrical mapping and region of interest analyses showed an increased [18F]MPPF binding potential (BPND) in the pontine raphe when compared to headache-free migraineurs and control subjects. This ictal change was confirmed at the individual level in each of the four affected patients. In comparison with the headache-free m...