Built on the back-translational approach, the preclinical visceral pain models offered at ANS Biotech are fully inspired by the clinic.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic functional bowel disease with prevalence rates from 5 to 22%. IBS is defined by the coexistence of abdominal pain or discomfort and alteration in bowel habit without obvious organic abnormalities. The cause of IBS remains unknown, but alteration of gut microbiota, low-grade inflammation/immune activation and altered brain–gut axis might represent potential mechanisms of IBS. Many studies have focused on visceral sensitivity in IBS patients. Balloon distension of the sigmoid colon and rectum causes pain at lower volumes in IBS patients than in healthy subjects and stressful life events are known to exacerbate/facilitate the relapse in those patients. Behavioral, autonomic and motor responses to colonic distension have also been studied at a preclinical stage.
ANS Biotech offers two preclinical models of IBS from peripheral and central origin. Chemical irritants such as Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) induce severe colonic inflammation and visceral hypersensitivity (peripherally mediated). Partial restraint stress (PRS), as a mild, non-painful, mainly psychological stressor, could trigger visceral hypersensitivity as well (centrally mediated). These models can be used to experimentally explore the pathophysiological aspects of this disorder. These assays are used to determine the potential antihypersensitive effects of compounds.
- TNBS-INDUCED COLONIC HYPERSENSITIVITY
Colonic distension test
- STRESS-INDUCED COLONIC HYPERSENSITIVITY
Colonic distension test