Neuropathic pain releasing calcitonin gene related peptide protects against stroke in rats

Neuropathic pain (NPP) is deemed as a potential risk of stroke; however, recent pieces of evidence showed that calcitonin gene-related peptide is involving in pain progression as well as organ protection. The mechanisms underlying the neuroprotection of calcitonin gene-related peptide are yet poorly described with respect to stroke. The present study showed that the elevated level of calcitonin gene-related peptide-induced by NPP exerts a protective effect against stroke in rats, which was further confirmed in vivo and vitro via mitigation of inflammatory response, inhibition of neuronal cell apoptosis, and increase in regional cerebral blood flow. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation at trigeminal ganglion was performed to simulate to facilitate the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide for a similar neuroprotective effect. Together, these findings posit that the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide-induced by NPP or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation protects against stroke in rats. Thus, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation could have high application prospects for the prevention and treatment of stroke.