Visceral analgesia induced by acute and repeated water avoidance stress in rats: sex difference in opioid involvement

Chronic psychological stress-induced alterations in visceral sensitivity have been predominantly assessed in male rodents. We investigated the effect of acute and repeated water avoidance stress (WAS) on the visceromotor response (VMR) to colorectal distension (CRD) and the role of opioids in male and cycling female Wistar rats using a novel non-invasive manometric technique.After a baseline VMR (1st CRD, day 0), rats were exposed to WAS (1 h...