Ovariectomy induced an increase in body weight in both conventional and germ-free mice and estrous cycle modulation of visceral pain was driven by microbiota-dependent mechanisms
(A) Ovariectomy (OVX) induced an increase in body weight in female mice regardless of microbiota status. ∗p ≤ 0.05 for conventionally colonized ovariectomized versus sham group, #p ≤ 0.05, ##p ≤ 0.01, ###p ≤ 0.001 for germ-free ovariectomized versus sham group. n = 7–12 per group. Data presented as Mean ± SEM.
(B) Estrous Cycle modulates visceral pain perception in conventional animals only. #p ≤ 0.05, ##p ≤ 0.01 conventionally colonized proestrus/estrus versus metestrus/diestrus group. n = 8–14 per group. Data presented as Mean ± SEM. VMR, visceromotor response; GF, germ-free; CC, conventionally colonised.