Sex-dependent modulation of CGRPergic neurovascular activity by 5-CT in rats
José Ángel García-Pedraza
Background and purposeSerotonin modulates vascular tone both directly and indirectly through autonomic and sensory nerves innervating blood vessels. Perivascular sensory nerves release calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a potent vasodilator strongly implicated in migraine pathophysiology. In male rats, the serotonergic system inhibits CGRPergic vasodepressor responses via 5-HT1B/1F and 5-HT7 receptors. Since both serotonergic and CGRPergic pathways exhibit marked sex differences, the presen