title: Experimental autoimmune prostatitis induces chronic pelvic pain.
abstract: Pain is the hallmark of patients with chronic prostatitis (CP) and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). Despite numerous hypotheses, the etiology and pathogenesis remain unknown. To better understand CP/CPPS, we used a murine experimental autoimmune prostatitis model to examine the development, localization, and modulation of pelvic pain. Pelvic pain was detected 5 days after antigen instillation and was sustained beyond 30 days, indicating the development of chronic pain. The pain was attenuated by lidocaine treatment into the prostate, but not into the bladder or the colon, suggesting that pain originated from the prostate. Experimental autoimmune prostatitis histopathology was confined to the prostate with focal periglandular inflammatory infiltrates in the ventral, dorsolateral, and anterior lobes of the mouse prostate. Inflammation and pelvic pain were positively correlated and increased with time. Morphologically, the dorsolateral prostate alone showed significantly increased neuronal fiber distribution, as evidenced by increased protein gene product 9.5 expression. Pelvic pain was attenuated by treatment with the neuromodulator gabapentin, suggesting spinal and/or supraspinal contribution to chronic pain. These results provide the basis for identifying mechanisms that regulate pelvic pain and the testing of therapeutic agents that block pain development in CP/CPPS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Charles N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Rudick
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schaeffer
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thumbikat
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000077206:Gabapentin; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000276:immunology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D008012:Lidocaine