Posted by Dinah on February 15, 2004, at 12:24:38
In reply to Dinah, posted by shortelise on February 15, 2004, at 2:42:10
I looked in all the most sensible places for my handout - the bottom of the pile of clean clothes, on top of my bureau, and can't find them. But here's an excerpt from:
http://nsweb.nursingspectrum.com/ce/ce133.htm
"Although the exact mechanisms remain under investigation most experts agree that the pain of migraine involves the serotonergic-adrenergic pain-modulating system, the central pain pathway that is modulated by serotonin and norepinephrine. Studies using positron emission tomography (PET) found that areas containing serotonergic cells, which light up during the test, are hyperactive during migraine. Cerebral blood flow in the brain stem structures also increases.
Although other neurotransmitters are involved, serotonin is one of the most significant in the migraine process — it is the one that is most successfully manipulated to control migraine pain. Ninety percent of serotonin is found in cells of the small intestine and much of the rest is found in the platelets and central nervous system. The remaining small but vital amount is located in cells in the brainstem that distribute their axons throughout the brain.
Serotonin is involved in sleep, mood change, cerebral arterial vascular activity, and thought and sensory perception. It also has a role in regulating the release of substance P, which increases capillary permeability so an exudate of fluid from the blood vessels leaks onto surrounding tissue. This, in turn, stimulates an inflammatory cascade that releases bradykinins and prostaglandins in the area. The presence of these substances increases the sensitivity of pain-conducting fibers and may cause spontaneous firing of nerves responsible for head pain."
poster:Dinah
thread:312788
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20040102/msgs/313593.html