Figure 3.

Rodent models of early life stress (ELS)-induced visceral hypersensitivity. Here we highlight three experimental approaches for increasing visceral sensitivity in adult rodents in response to early life stress. In each model, we have summarized the typical post-natal period of the stress exposure, the duration of the stressor, and the effect on colonic sensitivity in adulthood, along with the sex of the rat reliably showing colonic hypersensitivity. Please note that the duration and timing of the ELS reflects the range of procedures used within the literature, rather than a specific experimental protocol.