Prostaglandin E2 injected into the posterior hypothalamus has no effect on trigeminal nociception in the rat

Craniovascular prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release is elevated in the headache phase of migraine and in experimental models of headache. PGE2 synthesised in the brain may be involved in modulating trigeminal nociception. We examined whether PGE2 injected into the posterior hypothalamus could modulate trigeminovascular nociception. In seven rats, electrophysiological recordings were made from trigeminal nucleus caudalis neurons responsive to noxious middle meningeal artery stimulation and inhibited by bicuculline activation of the posterior hypothalamus. Microinjection into the posterior hypothalamus of a non-pyrogenic dose of PGE2 (2.5 microg/ml) produced no effect on nociceptive trigeminal nucleus caudalis neurons compared with saline injection (P=0.29). The mean response to PGE2 injection was 97% of baseline. We conclude that PGE2 in the posterior hypothalamus is unlikely to play a significant role in modulating trigeminal nociception.