Donitriptan decreases jugular venous oxygen saturation in rats in the absence of cranial vasoconstriction: An overlooked mechanism of antimigraine action?

The aim of the present study was to determine whether donitriptan and sumatriptan decreased jugular venous oxygen saturation and increased carbon dioxide partial pressure in venous blood. However, previous studies conducted with these compounds cannot discriminate whether the decrease of venous oxygen saturation is dependent of cranial vasoconstrictor. In the present study, vehicle ( n = 10), donitriptan (2.5, 10, and 40 μg/kg; n = 8) or sumatriptan (630 μg/kg; n = 8) were infused into the carotid artery in the anesthetized rat. Regional blood flows were evaluated in the presence of donitriptan (10 μg/kg; n = 6) or vehicle ( n = 6). Jugular venous oxygen saturation was significantly decreased by donitriptan (from 10 μg/kg) with maximal changes of -32.9 ± 8.0%. Jugular carbon dioxide partial pressure was increased by donitriptan, reaching maximal changes of 17.7 ± 4.6% ( P 1B/1D receptor antagonist GR 127935 ( N -[4-methoxy-3-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)phenyl]-2-[-methyl-4(5-methyl-1,2,4)-oxadiazol-3-yl]-(1,1 biphenyl)-4-carboxamide dihydrochloride). In addition, donitriptan was devoid of significant effects on systemic arterial pressure, heart rate, or regional blood flows, including systemic arterial-jugular venous anastomotic, systemic, or cranial. The results demonstrate that donitriptan increases cerebral oxygen consumption by 5-HT 1B/1D receptor activation in the absence of cranial vasoconstriction.