Authors: Gschossmann JM, Adam B, Liebregts T, Buenger L, Ruwe M, Gerken G, Mayer EA, Holtmann G.

Institution: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.

Background: Acute mucosal inflammation may initiate alterations of visceral sensory function. However, experimental studies on the potential effects of a transient inflammation on visceral sensitivity are lacking.

Results: TNB/ethanol but not saline induced an acute colitis, with most severe histological lesions occurring 5 days after instillation. After 14 days, there was no histological evidence for persisting mucosal alterations. Five days after induction of TNB/ethanol colitis, the VMR to CRD reached a transient increase (P < 0.05 v. baseline), which returned to baseline levels by day 14. In control experiments (rectal saline instillation), the VMR to CRD decreased significantly compared with baseline values (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Following an acute colitis due to single colorectal instillation of TNB/ethanol, histological changes are associated with an enhanced nociceptive response to CRD.

Link study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12362096&query_hl=12&itool=pubmed_DocSum

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