Pain
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Recent findings linked gastrointestinal disorders characterized by abdominal pain to gut microbiota composition. The present work aimed to evaluate the power of gut microbiota as a visceral pain modulator and, consequently, the relevance of its manipulation as a therapeutic option in reversing postinflammatory visceral pain persistence. Colitis was induced in mice by intrarectally injecting 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS). ⋯ By contrast, no significant alterations of colon histology, permeability, and monoamines levels were detected. Finally, by manipulating the gut microbiota of DNBS-treated animals, a counteraction of persistent visceral pain was achieved. The present results provide novel insights into the relationship between intestinal microbiota and visceral hypersensitivity, highlighting the therapeutic potential of microbiota-targeted interventions.