Role of Central Kappa Opioid Receptors in Post-inflammatory Visceral Hyperalgesia

Aims: Visceral hyperalgesia following an acute mucosal inflammation is believed to play a key role for a subset of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders. The influence of opioidergic pathways for disturbances of visceral function has been partially characterized in human and animal studies. Data on the persistence of functional abnormalities of the opioidergic system following an acute mucosal inflammation are lacking. Aims: (1) To evaluate the effect of the kappa opioid agonist (KOA) U50488H on visceral sensory function and (2) to determine changes of peripheral and central opioid receptor express…