Pathobiology of visceral pain: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications III. Visceral afferent pathways: a source of new therapeutic targetsfor abdominal pain

Visceral pain is the major cause of consulting in gastroenterology and the principal symptom of functional bowel disorders. This symptom is often asso ciated with gut hypersensitivity to distension. The use of animal models ha s recently permitted the identification of some mediators supposed to play a pivotal role in the genesis of visceral hypersensitivity. Serotonin, thro ugh different receptor subtypes, as well as kinins and calcitonin gene-rela ted peptide, are known to be involved, but other putative transmitters aris e and are new potential targets for the development of efficacious treatmen ts. This themes article addresses both physiological and preclinical issues of interest for the selection of active new drugs in regard to the clinica l pharmacology of visceral pain.