Review article: evaluation of drugs in experimental gut distension models

Distension of the gastrointestinal tract elicits abdominal pain, as well as sensations such as discomfort or fullness. Many patients with irritable bowel syndrome have been reported to show a reduced threshold to the pain or discomfort due to experimental rectal distension. This hypersensitivity of the gut may be characteristics of the irritable bowel, as well as other functional gastrointestinal disorders. Intestinal distension in animals induces a range of responses which have been used as indexes of visceral nociception. This paper reviews a recently introduced canine model used to assess the antinociceptive properties of a novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, alosetron.