Animal models of headache: from bedside to bench and back to bedside

Abstract

In recent years bench-based studies have greatly enhanced our understanding of headache pathophysiology, while facilitating the development of new headache medicines. At present, established animal models of headache utilize activation of pain-producing cranial structures, which for a complex syndrome, such as migraine, leaves many dimensions of the syndrome unstudied. The focus on modeling the central nociceptive mechanisms and the complexity of sensory phenomena that accompany migraine may offer new approaches for the development of new therapeutics. Given the complexity of the primary headaches, multiple approaches and techniques need to be employed. As an example, recently a model for trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias has been tested successfully, while by contrast, a satisfactory model of tension-type headache has been elusive. Moreover, although useful in many regards, migraine models are yet to provide a more complete picture of the disorder.

Keywords::

• cortical-spreading depression
• migraine
• neurogenic vasodilation
• primary headaches
• trigeminocervical complex
• trigeminovascular system

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Peter J Goadsby has consulted over the last 3 years for, advised or collaborated with, Advanced Bionics, Allergan, Almirall, Amgen, ATI, AstraZeneca, Belgian Research Council, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, BMS, Boston Scientific, Colucid, Coherex, Eli-Lilly, Fidelity Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, MAP, Migraine Research Foundation, Migraine Trust, Minster, Medical Research Council-UK, MSD, NINDS, Netherlands Research Council, Neuralieve, Neuraxon, NTP, Organisation for Understanding Cluster Headache-UK and US and Pfizer. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.