EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON HEADACHE: PHARMACODYNAMICS OF URINE EXCRETED DURING MIGRAINE HEADACHE AND ITS RELATION TO 17-KETOSTEROID CONTENT

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Abstract
Urine collected during attacks of migraine headache caused the rectus abdominis muscle of the frog to contract to a greater degree than did specimens collected during the attack-free periods. Specimens collected during the prodromic period induced least contraction. The 17-ketosteroid content of urine increased with an increase in the contraction-producing effect, as demonstrated by chemical and biological assays. The increase in the amt. of contraction produced by urine collected during an attack of migraine headache was probably not due to K, ace-tylcholine, or histamine, nor was it related to the sp. gr. of the urine. It is suggested that steroid compounds may participate in the production of an attack of migraine headache by potentiation of the effect of a locally liberated vasodilator neurohumoral substance.