Neuroplastic Changes in Adult Urogenital Sensation Induced by Neonatal Cystitis – A Review of Studies and Filling of Gaps

Research studies related to neuroplastic changes that occur secondary to a bout of cystitis at a critical neonatal period of development in female rats (P14-16) are reviewed. They reveal that neonatal bladder inflammation (NBI) leads to an adult phenotype with many of the features of the human disorder, interstitial cystitis. Neurochemical, behavioral and neurophysiological differences between rats which experienced NBI and control animals are discussed and new data presented.