Inflammation or pain during early neonatal development results in long-term structural and functional alterations in nociceptive processing. While this phenomenon has been extensively studied within the somatosensory system, the impact of neonatal inflammation on the viscerosensory system is relatively unknown. This proposal has been designed to address the long-term effects of neonatal colon inflammation on the processing of visceral pain in adult mice. A model of neonatal colonic inflammation in mice will be used to determine if permanent changes can be induced in anatomical and physiological properties of visceral afferents, causing them to become permanently sensitized and thereby establishing a state of chronic visceral hyperalgesia. Using a combination of anatomical and physiological techniques, changes will be investigated in 1) the central and peripheral termination patterns and spinal organization of colonic afferents, 2) nocifensive responses to noxious stimuli and 3) the electrophysiological response patterns of colonic afferents. The data obtained here will provide important information regarding the plasticity of the viscerosensory system during neonatal periods.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32NS051021-02
Application #
7098882
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F02B (20))
Program Officer
Porter, Linda L
Project Start
2005-06-10
Project End
2007-08-04
Budget Start
2006-06-10
Budget End
2007-08-04
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$50,428
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
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Christianson, Julie A; Liang, Ruomei; Ustinova, Elena E et al. (2007) Convergence of bladder and colon sensory innervation occurs at the primary afferent level. Pain 128:235-43
Christianson, J A; McIlwrath, S L; Koerber, H R et al. (2006) Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1-immunopositive neurons in the mouse are more prevalent within colon afferents compared to skin and muscle afferents. Neuroscience 140:247-57