Mostmigrainepatientssufferfromcutaneousallodynia;however,theunderlyingmechanismsareunclear.Calcitoningene-relatedpeptide(CGRP)playsanimportantroleinthepathophysiologyofmigraine,anditistherefore,apotentialtherapeutictargetfortreatingthepain.Inthepresentstudy,aratmodelofconsciousmigraine,inducedbyrepeatedelectricalstimulationofthesuperiorsagittalsinus,wasestablishedandtreatedwithelectroacupunctureatFengchi(GB20)(depthof2–3mm,frequencyof2/15Hz,intensityof0.5–1.0mA,15minutes/day,for7consecutivedays).ElectroacupunctureatGB20significantlyalleviatedthedecreaseinhindpawandfacialwithdrawalthresholdsandsignificantlylessenedtheincreaseinthelevelsofCGRPinthetrigeminalganglion,trigeminalnucleuscaudalisandventroposteriormedialthalamicnucleusinratswithmigraine.NoCGRP-positivecellsweredetectedinthetrigeminalnucleuscaudalisorventroposteriormedialthalamicnucleusbyimmunofluorescence.Ourfindingssuggestthatelectroacupuncturetreatmentamelioratesmigrainepainandassociatedcutaneousallodyniabymodulatingthetrigeminovascularsystemascendingpathway,atleastinpartbyinhibitingCGRPexpressioninthetrigeminalganglion.
