Preprint
Glymphatic function restored by α 1-noradrenergic antagonism alleviates headache allodynia in mice
bioRxiv
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
04/28/2026
DOI: 10.64898/2026.04.24.720660
PMID: 42094573
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often leads to migraine-like post-traumatic headache (PTH), yet effective treatments are limited. Clinical and preclinical studies have shown that mTBI disrupts glymphatic transport of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. We hypothesized that altered glymphatic transport might underlie facial allodynia commonly associated with migraine and PTH. A closed-head impact model was used to induce mTBI in mice. Facial allodynia, a symptom of PTH and migraine, was evaluated using periorbital von Frey testing. Glymphatic influx was assessed using slice-based imaging of a fluorescent tracer injected into the cisterna magna. Here we show that prazosin (PZN), an α1-noradrenergic receptor antagonist, restores glymphatic function and treats facial allodynia induced by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and a nitric oxide donor in mice. In contrast, propranolol, a β-noradrenergic receptor antagonist, was ineffective. Even in the absence of mTBI, CGRP reduced glymphatic function and PZN was able to restore glymphatic function in the dorsal cortex. Importantly, the role of glymphatic function was confirmed by the lack of PZN efficacy in aquaporin-4 knockout mice. These findings indicate that targeting α1-noradrenergic receptors to enhance glymphatic transport may offer a therapeutic strategy for treating migraine and PTH.Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often leads to migraine-like post-traumatic headache (PTH), yet effective treatments are limited. Clinical and preclinical studies have shown that mTBI disrupts glymphatic transport of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. We hypothesized that altered glymphatic transport might underlie facial allodynia commonly associated with migraine and PTH. A closed-head impact model was used to induce mTBI in mice. Facial allodynia, a symptom of PTH and migraine, was evaluated using periorbital von Frey testing. Glymphatic influx was assessed using slice-based imaging of a fluorescent tracer injected into the cisterna magna. Here we show that prazosin (PZN), an α1-noradrenergic receptor antagonist, restores glymphatic function and treats facial allodynia induced by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and a nitric oxide donor in mice. In contrast, propranolol, a β-noradrenergic receptor antagonist, was ineffective. Even in the absence of mTBI, CGRP reduced glymphatic function and PZN was able to restore glymphatic function in the dorsal cortex. Importantly, the role of glymphatic function was confirmed by the lack of PZN efficacy in aquaporin-4 knockout mice. These findings indicate that targeting α1-noradrenergic receptors to enhance glymphatic transport may offer a therapeutic strategy for treating migraine and PTH.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Glymphatic function restored by α 1-noradrenergic antagonism alleviates headache allodynia in mice
- Creators
- Adriana Della PietraAdisa Kuburas - University of IowaMathew Sevao - University of WashingtonTristen M Castillo - University of IowaQuinn K Hanigan - University of IowaThomas L Duong - University of IowaHarold C Flinn - University of Iowa, Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsEmilie H Partridge - University of IowaMurray A Raskind - University of WashingtonJeffrey J Iliff - University of WashingtonAndrew F Russo - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Preprint
- Publication Details
- bioRxiv
- DOI
- 10.64898/2026.04.24.720660
- PMID
- 42094573
- ISSN
- 2692-8205
- eISSN
- 2692-8205
- Publisher
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Language
- English
- Date posted
- 04/28/2026
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9985163710902771
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