Contribution of gender to pathophysiology and clinical presentation of IBS: should management be different in women?

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is found more commonly in women than men. It is more prevalent in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chronic pelvic pain, all syndromes characterized by pain and found predominantly in women. This article reviews evidence for a role of biological sex factors and gender on the pathways mediating visceral pain.

Mechanisms mediating cholinergic antral circular smooth muscle contraction in rats.

Aim: To investigate the pathway (s) mediating rat antral circular smooth muscle contractile responses to the cholinomimetic agent, bethanechol and the subtypes of muscarinic receptors mediating the cholinergic contraction.

Methods: Circular smooth muscle strips from the antrum of Sprague-Dawley rats were mounted in muscle baths in Krebs buffer. Isometric tension was recorded.