Spinal Astrocytes in Chronic Visceral Pain

Chronic visceral pain is the primary symptom of functional gastrointestinal disorders, affecting up to 20% of the population. It involves peripheral sensitization in the peripheral nervous system and central sensitization in the central nervous system (CNS). In recent years, related research has extended from neurons to glial cells, particularly astrocytes in the spinal cord, which become activated, exhibit enhanced coupling, and show higher sensitivity to pain mediators. This review discusses the mechanisms of spinal astrocytes in different animal models of visceral pain. A role of spinal astrocytes in the pathogenesis of visceral pain is also emerging, and astrocytes are likely to be a target for the future therapies of chronic visceral pain.