Objective To detect the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) isotypes (PPARα,PPARβ/δ and PPARγ) in migraine rat models induced by nitroglycerin and their roles in morbidity mechanism.Methods Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group,physiological saline control group and migraine model group (n=16).The rat migraine models were established according to Tassorelli Cristina method and performed abdominal subcutaneous injection of nitroglycerin at a dosage of 9.5 mg/kg; rats in the physiological saline control group were given the same volume of physiological saline and that in the normal control group did not receive any treatment.The trigeminocervical complexes were separated from rats in each group.Expressions of PPARα,PPARβ/δ and PPARγ were detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemical method.Results Immunohistochemical staining showed strong positive expressions of PPARα,PPARβ/δ and PPARγ in model group,which were higher than those in normal control group and physiological saline control group.Western blotting indicated that the expressions of PPARα,PPARβ/δ and PPARγγof the trigeminocervical complexes in model group were 0.361 ±0.051,0.372 ±0.061 and 0.654 ±0.101,respectively,which were also significantly higher than those in normal control group and physiological saline control group (P＜0.05).Conclusions The expressions of PPARα,PPARβ/δ and PPARγγin the trigeminocervical complexes in migraine rats are increased,which might be a compensatory neuroprotective response in the occurrence of migraine.