title: Gastrointestinal pharmacology: irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Over the past 30 years, the main treatment of irritable bowel syndrome has aimed to normalize gastrointestinal transit using either laxatives or antidiarrheal agents, with or without the concurrent use of spasmolytics. The recent introduction of serotonin-related drugs has stimulated investigations into the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome, including an evaluation of visceral sensitivity. At the same time, more information has been acquired on the status of the local immune system as a possible cause for sensitization of nerve terminals. Such investigations have stimulated the emergence of new concepts and original candidate drugs for the treatment of this functional disorder. Particular attention is devoted to the correction of visceral hyperalgesia.
authors.affiliation: Neurogastroenterology Unit INRA, 180 Chemin de Tournefeuille-BP3, 31931 Toulouse, France. lbueno@toulouse.inra.fr
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bueno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D011613:Psychotherapy; D043886:Receptor, Cholecystokinin A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2 / Q000502:physiology; D018042:Receptors, Neurokinin-3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D058831:Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists; D058828:Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D043886:Receptor, Cholecystokinin A; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2; D018042:Receptors, Neurokinin-3; D058831:Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists; D058828:Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor