Getting to the root of visceral gut pain
Michigan State UniversityResearchers at Michigan State University have shown that cells known as glia could lower the threshold to trigger visceral pain in patients, such as those with irritable bowel syndrome, who have experienced inflammation in the gut. The finding was reported in the journal Science Signaling. The team discovered this phenomenon in mice, meaning the results may not completely extrapolate to humans. Still, the work provides a new avenue of exploration to better treat visceral pain, which is the most common gastrointestinal issue.