The perception of visceral pain is a complex process involving the spinal cord and higher
order brain structures. Increasing evidence implicates the gut microbiota as a key regulator
of brain and behavior, yet it remains to be determined if gut bacteria play a role in visceral
sensitivity. We used germ-free mice (GF) to assess visceral sensitivity, spinal cord gene
expression and pain-related brain structures. GF mice displayed visceral hypersensitivity
accompanied by increases in Toll-like receptor and cytokine gene expression in the spinal …

The perception of visceral pain is a complex process involving the spinal cord and higher
order brain structures. Increasing evidence implicates the gut microbiota as a key regulator
of brain and behavior, yet it remains to be determined if gut bacteria play a role in visceral
sensitivity. We used germ-free mice (GF) to assess visceral sensitivity, spinal cord gene
expression and pain-related brain structures. GF mice displayed visceral hypersensitivity
accompanied by increases in Toll-like receptor and cytokine gene expression in the spinal …