Mechanisms of Stress‐Induced Visceral Pain: Implications in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

B. Greenwood‐Van Meerveld, R. D. Moloney, A. C. Johnson, M. Vicario

Visceral pain describes pain originating from the internal organs of the body and is a common feature of many disorders including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Stress is implicated in the development and exacerbation of many visceral pain disorders. Recent evidence suggests that stress and the gut microbiota can interact through complementary or opposing factors to influence visceral nociceptive behaviors. The presentation at this Young Investigator Forum at the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology (ISPNE) annual meeting described the experimental evidence by which the gut microbiota can affect the stress response to affect visceral pain. Building upon human imaging data showing abnormalities in that central processing of visceral stimuli in patients with IBS with the knowledge that the amygdala plays a pivotal role in facilitating the stress axis, we reviewed our latest experimental evidence supporting amygdala-mediated mechanisms in stress-induced visceral pain. The final part of the session at ISPNE reviewed experimental evidence that visceral pain in IBS may be due, at least in part, to afferent nerve sensitization following increases in epithelial permeability and mucosal immune activation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.