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

• Author(s): Neto, AC ; Santos Pereira, M ; Abreu Mendes, P ; Neves, D ; Almeida, H ; Cruz, F ; Charrua A.
• Date: 2023
• Persistent ID: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/148204
• Origin: Repositório Aberto da Universidade do Porto
• Document Type: Journal article
• Language: English

Description

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.