The Unmet Needs for Studying Chronic Pelvic/Visceral Pain Using Animal Models

Autores da FMUP

• Pedro Filipe Pinto De Abreu Mendes

  Autor

• Delminda Rosa Gamelas Neves Lopes De Magalhães

  Autor

• Henrique Manuel Nunes De Almeida

  Autor

• 

  Francisco José Miranda Rodrigues Da Cruz

  Autor

• Ana Cristina Estrela De Oliveira Charrua Cordeiro

  Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

• Neto, AC
• Santos Pereira, M

Unidades de investigação

• Biomedicina

• Cirurgia e Fisiologia

Abstract

The different definitions of chronic pelvic/visceral pain used by international societies have changed over the years. These differences have a great impact on the way researchers study chronic pelvic/visceral pain. Recently, the role of systemic changes, including the role of the central nervous system, in the perpetuation and chronification of pelvic/visceral pain has gained weight. Consequently, researchers are using animal models that resemble those systemic changes rather than using models that are organ- or tissue-specific. In this review, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using bladder-centric and systemic models, enumerating some of the central nervous system changes and pain-related behaviors occurring in each model. We also present some drawbacks when using animal models and pain-related behavior tests and raise questions about possible, yet to be demonstrated, investigator-related bias. We also suggest new approaches to study chronic pelvic/visceral pain by refining existing animal models or using new ones.

Keywords

• endometriosis pain syndrome; chronic primary bladder pain syndrome; animal model