Vaginal hyperalgesia in a rat model of endometriosis

Dyspareunia, Urinary Sensory Symptoms, and Incontinence Among Young Chinese Women

“…Neuroscience research has provided evidence for overlap of sensory mechanisms in the urogenital and gastrointestinal systems, termed viscero-visceral and viscero-somatic convergence (Berkley, 1993). Animal experimental work (Berkley, Cason, Jacobs, Bradshaw, & Wood, 2001) has provided possible explanations for the clinical observation of patients presenting with pelvic or abdominal disease, such as endometriosis, but proving on further assessment to have vaginal hyperalgesia. A complicating factor is that while dyspareunia may have a psychosexual basis in some, in others it is due to a specific disease.…”

Proteasomes and Proteasome Activator 200 kDa (PA200) Accumulate on Chromatin in Response to Ionizing Radiation

“…Rats with surgically induced endometriosis (Endo) display pathophysiologies similar to those of primates and humans with the disease, including pain and infertility [12][13][14]. An association between the presence of ectopic endometriotic implants and reduced fecundity in rats has been described [13,[15][16][17].…”

Primary Afferent Nociceptors and Visceral Pain

“…Sensitization of primary afferent neurons to stimulation may play a role in the enhanced perception of visceral sensation and pain. Chest pain from coronary heart disease, endometriosis, acute and recurrent/chronic pelvic pain in women or abdominal are all visceral pain sensations that may result in part from sensitization (Berkley et al 2001;Mayer et al 2001). Mechanisms of peripheral sensitization may involve increased transduction that is secondary to repeated stimulation or an increase in the excitability of the afferent nerves by molecules that decrease the excitation threshold (Zimmermann 2001) The cell bodies of primary visceral spinal afferent neurons are located in DRG.…”