Dysregulated autophagy, neural signaling pathways and gut-brain axis in a novel vestibular migraine-like rat model: implications for pathogenesis

Oct 28, 2025The journal of headache and pain

Disrupted cellular cleanup, brain nerve signals, and gut-brain communication in a new rat model of vestibular migraine: possible causes

AI simplified

Abstract

-like rats exhibited significant mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, with p < 0.05.

  • Mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia was observed in VM-like rats, along with longer balance beam traversal and higher motion sickness index scores.
  • Molecular analysis indicated upregulation of pain-related channels (TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPM8) in blood and increased CGRP levels in specific brain regions.
  • Activation of the NMDAR1-CaMKII-CREB signaling pathway was noted in the vestibular nuclei of VM-like rats.
  • Impaired autophagic processes were identified in both VM patients and VM-like rats, evidenced by elevated levels of LC3-II and P62.
  • Alterations in gut microbiota included reduced diversity and changes in specific bacterial populations, such as increased Lactobacillus and decreased Lachnospiraceae.
  • Serum metabolomics showed a decrease in certain phospholipids and an increase in metabolites like 2-ketobutyric acid and GABA, indicating shifts in metabolic pathways.

AI simplified

Key numbers

Increase in Levels
levels were significantly increased in and of rats.
3 of 10
Mechanical Hyperalgesia
rats exhibited significant mechanical hyperalgesia compared to group.
index
Elevated Motion Sickness Index
rats showed significantly elevated index scores from day 3 onwards.

Full Text

We can’t show the full text here under this license. Use the link below to read it at the source.

what lands in your inbox each week:

  • 📚7 fresh studies
  • 📝plain-language summaries
  • direct links to original studies
  • 🏅top journal indicators
  • 📅weekly delivery
  • 🧘‍♂️always free