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Bacterial cystitis is accompanied by increased peripheral thermal sensitivity in mice
Dale E Bjorling1, Zun-Yi Wang, Kyle Boldon
1Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
The Journal of Urology
|December 18, 2007
Summary
Bacterial cystitis from E. coli causes increased pain sensitivity in mice with functional toll-like receptor 4. This visceral inflammation leads to heightened responses to thermal stimuli, indicating a link between infection and sensory changes.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Chemical cystitis causes visceral inflammation and pain, leading to hypersensitivity in sacral dermatomes.
- It is unknown if bacterial cystitis induces similar sensory sensitization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if bacterial cystitis causes increased sensitivity to noxious stimuli.
- To investigate the role of toll-like receptor 4 in this process.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial cystitis was induced in mice using intravesical instillation of Escherichia coli.
- Hind paw sensitivity to thermal stimuli was measured at various time points post-infection.
- Mice lacking functional toll-like receptor 4 were used as controls.
Main Results:
- E. coli instillation successfully induced cystitis in all mouse strains.
- Mice with functional toll-like receptor 4 (C57BL/6N and C3H/OuJ) showed increased thermal sensitivity starting 1-2 days post-infection, persisting for 14 days.
- Mice lacking functional toll-like receptor 4 (C3H/HeJ) did not exhibit increased thermal sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- Escherichia coli-induced cystitis leads to peripheral thermal hyperalgesia in mice.
- This sensitization is dependent on the presence of functional toll-like receptor 4, highlighting its role in the host response to bacterial infection and subsequent pain signaling.
