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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 293/4/G749    most recent 00114.2007v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (6) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Eijkelkamp, N. Articles by Heijnen, C. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Eijkelkamp, N. Articles by Heijnen, C. J.

NEUROREGULATION AND MOTILITY

Increased visceral sensitivity to capsaicin after DSS-induced colitis in mice: spinal cord c-Fos expression and behavior

¹Laboratory for Psychoneuroimmunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; ²Department of Medical Psychology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; ³Centre for Digestive Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Royal Adelaide Hospital and University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

Submitted 7 March 2007 ; accepted in final form 25 July 2007

During acute and chronic inflammation visceral pain perception is altered. Conflicting data exist, however, on visceral pain perception in the postinflammatory phase. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether visceral pain perception is altered after resolution of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced inflammation of the colon. Visceral sensory function in mice was assessed by monitoring behavioral responses to intracolonic capsaicin instillation. Two hours later the number of c-Fos-positive neurons in lamina I/II and X of spinal cord segments T_12/13–S₁ was determined as a measure of neuronal activation. DSS colitis was induced by adding 1% of DSS to the drinking water. The course of DSS-induced colitis was assessed by determining the disease activity index score. Animals developed a transient colitis and had recovered at day 49. At this time point, cytokine levels and colon length were similar to control animals. Importantly, after resolution of DSS-induced colitis the behavioral response to intracolonic capsaicin was increased compared with control mice. Moreover, capsaicin-induced spinal cord neuronal c-Fos expression was significantly increased. Interestingly, after colitis animals also exhibited referred somatic hyperalgesia as measured with von Frey hairs on the abdominal wall. We conclude that postinflammatory visceral hyperalgesia occurs after resolution of DSS-induced colitis and that capsaicin-induced behavioral responses and spinal cord neuronal c-Fos activation are effective readouts for determination of visceral pain perception.

visceral hyperalgesia; dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis; referred hyperalgesia; inflammation

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