Investigation of the Role of the Dopaminergic System in Pain Catastrophizing and Memory in a Nitroglycerin-Induced Migraine Model in Rats

Abstract

Migraine is a complex neurological disorder accompanied by cognitive impairments, including memory problems and pain catastrophizing. One of the proposed mechanisms underlying these changes is the dopaminergic system, which plays a key role in cognitive processes. This study aimed to investigate the role of the dopaminergic system in pain catastrophizing and long-term memory in a nitroglycerin-induced migraine model in rats. The experiment utilized DAT-KO rats, including DAT-WT (n = 14) and DAT-HET (n = 14). A migraine-like phenotype was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of nitroglycerin (10 mg/kg). Pain catastrophizing was assessed using a conditioned place avoidance paradigm with a needle and von Frey filaments, while long-term memory was evaluated using the novel object recognition test. Data were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA. No significant differences in pain catastrophizing were found between the groups (p > 0.05). The discrimination index for memory also did not differ between genotypes and was not affected in the migraine model (p > 0.05). Thus, the study demonstrated that pain catastrophizing does not develop in the examined groups, and nitroglycerin administration does not affect memory processes in rats regardless of their dopaminergic status.