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Assessment of colon sensitivity by luminal distension in mice

Nature Protocols volume 2, pages 2624–2631 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Colorectal distension (CRD) is a widely used and reliable method for evaluating colon sensitivity in unanesthetized animals, including humans. Hollow organ distension is a mechanical stimulus that replicates in humans the sensation and pattern of referral of their visceral pain. In animals, CRD has been employed to evaluate drug efficacy, strain, sex or genetic differences and changes in colon sensitivity after inflammation or irritation of the distal colon. Responses to CRD are measured as electromyographic (EMG) recordings of the abdominal musculature, termed the visceromotor response. This protocol will provide sufficient detail to allow an investigator to surgically prepare a mouse for CRD, construct distending balloons, distend the colon, and accumulate and analyze data from EMG recordings; examples are also provided to illustrate typical experimental outcomes. CRD recording sessions are typically 2 h in duration.

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Figure 1: Diagram illustrating materials and system connections for colorectal distention.
Figure 2: Illustration of the method for implanting electrode wires into the abdominal muscles for EMG recordings.
Figure 3: Illustration of how to measure the amount of EMG activity during colorectal distension.
Figure 4: Illustration of the results from the distension protocol described in this protocol performed on the same mice depicted in Figure 3.
Figure 5: Illustration of different methods of quantifying responses to CRD.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Michael Burcham in preparation of the figures. This work was supported by NIH award R01 NS 19912.

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  1. Departments of Anesthesiology, Medicine and Neurobiology, Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, 15261, Pennsylvania, USA

    Julie A Christianson & Gerald F Gebhart

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  1. Julie A Christianson
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  2. Gerald F Gebhart
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Correspondence to Gerald F Gebhart.

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Christianson, J., Gebhart, G. Assessment of colon sensitivity by luminal distension in mice. Nat Protoc 2, 2624–2631 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2007.392

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