Pre-clinical Models of Endometriosis: A Focus on Chronic Pain

Jessica Maddern, Stuart M. Brierley, Joel Castro

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Endometriosis is a multifaceted chronic disease with a complex and variable display of clinical symptoms. Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) affects most women with endometriosis, leaving patients frequently suffering from widespread pain, often associated with painful comorbidities. Despite this significant disease burden, limited progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms contributing to endometriosis-associated CPP development. Accordingly, therapies that adequately target and treat the debilitating pain remain lacking. Small animal models of endometriosis show considerable promise as pre-clinical tools to investigate the mechanisms of CPP; however, the majority of these studies focus on the pathogenesis and development of endometriosis, which leaves the mechanisms underlying CPP elusive. When established behavioural techniques are incorporated into these pre-clinical animal models of endometriosis, it is apparent that they recapitulate key pain attributes that are observed clinically in women with endometriosis. However, studies often employ only one or two behavioural techniques focused on an individual symptom, rather than utilising multiple techniques to uncover the mechanisms underlying diverse and comorbid pain. As many women with endometriosis suffer from widespread pain that frequently affecting multiple organs, a paradigm shift aimed at encompassing a multifaceted approach is essential for the future study of endometriosis-associated pain.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationVisceral Pain
EditorsStuart M. Brierley, Nick J. Spencer
Place of PublicationCham, Switzerland
PublisherSpringer International Publishing
Pages209-222
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9783031257025
ISBN (Print)9783031257018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Endometriosis
  • Evoked behaviours
  • Pain mechanism
  • Pre-clinical models
  • Spontaneous behaviours

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