Early in life stressful events induce chronic visceral pain and changes in bladder function in adult female mice through a mechanism involving TRPV1 and alpha 1A adrenoceptors

Abstract Background Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic pain disorder with multiple phenotypes, one of which is associated with an overactive adrenergic system. Objective We investigated if the maternal deprivation model (MDM) in female and male mice mimics IC/BPS phenotype and if the overstimulation of alpha 1A adrenoceptor (A1AAR) and the crosstalk with transient receptor potential vanilloid‐1 (TRPV1) are involved in the generation of pain and bladder functional changes. Design, Setting, and Participants C57BL/6 female and male mice were submitted to MDM. TRPV1 knockout (KO) mice were used to study TRPV1 involvement. Silodosin administration to MDM mice was used to study A1AAR involvement. Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis The primary outcome was chronic visceral pain measured by Von Frey filaments analysis (effect size: 3 for wild type, 3.9 for TRPV1 KO). Bladder changes were secondary outcome measurements. Unpaired T test, Mann–Whitney test, one‐way analysis of variance followed by Newman–Keuls multiple comparisons test, and Kruskal–Wallis followed by Dunn's multiple comparisons test were used where appropriate. Results and Limitations MDM induces pain behavior in female and not in male mice. Bladder afferents seem sensitize as MDM also increase the number of small volume spots voided, the bladder reflex activity, and urothelial damage. These changes were similarly absent after A1AAR blockade with silodosin or by TRPV1 gene KO. The main limitation is the number/type of pain tests used. Conclusions MDM induced in female mice is able to mimic IC/BPS phenotype, through mechanisms involving A1AAR and TRPV1. Therefore, the modulation of both receptors may represent a therapeutic approach to treat IC/BPS patients.