There is circumstantial evidence that cortical spreading depression (SD) may account for the scotoma and the "spreading cortical oligemia" seen during migraine with aura. It has been shown that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is increased in blood taken from the external jugular vein (EJV) in humans during migraine and after stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion. To test the hypothesis that cortical SD may elevate the concentration of this vasoactive peptide in the EJV during migraine, we have measured its concentration in the external jugular vein of cats during cortical SD. This study demonstrates that SD has no effect on the concentration of CGRP either during the passage of a wave of spreading depression across the cortex or, 60 min later, during the period of post-SD cortical oligemia.