title: Neurobiology of early life stress and visceral pain: translational relevance from animal models to patient care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiological studies show that females are twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) than their male counterparts. Despite evidence pointing to a role for sex hormones in the onset or exacerbation of IBS symptoms, the mechanism by which ovarian hormones may predispose women to develop IBS remains largely undefined. On the other hand, there is a growing body of research showing a correlation between reports of early life stress (ELS) and the diagnosis of IBS. Current treatments available for IBS patients target symptom relief including abdominal pain and alterations in bowel habits, but are not directed to the etiology of the disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To better understand the mechanisms by which sex hormones and ELS contribute to IBS, animal models have been developed to mirror complex human experiences allowing for longitudinal studies that investigate the lifelong consequences of ELS. These preclinical models have been successful in recapitulating ELS-induced visceral pain. Moreover, in female rats the influence of cycling hormones on visceral hypersensitivity resembles that seen in women with IBS. Such studies suggest that rodent models of ELS may serve as pivotal tools in determining (i) the etiology of IBS, (ii) novel future treatments for IBS, and (iii) improving individualized patient care. The current review aims to shed light on the progress and the challenges observed by clinicians within the field of gastroenterology and the preclinical science aimed at addressing those challenges in an effort to understand and more efficiently treat functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in both children and adults.
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Prusator
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.|VA Medical Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.|Department of Physiology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Greenwood-Van Meerveld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000069586:Adult Survivors of Child Adverse Events; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical; D059265:Visceral Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: early life stress; functional gastrointestinal disorders; therapeutic approaches; translational research; visceral pain