The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society
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Higher sensitivity to pain is a common clinical symptom in postmenopausal females. The gut microbiota (GM) has recently been identified as participating in various pathophysiological processes and may change during menopause and contribute to multiple postmenopausal symptoms. Here, we investigated the possible correlation between GM alteration and allodynia in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. ⋯ Our findings provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms of postmenopausal allodynia, and suggest pain-related microbiota community as a promising therapeutic target. PERSPECTIVE: This article provided the evidence of gut microbiota playing essential roles in postmenopausal allodynia. This work intended to offer a guidance for further mechanism investigation into gut-brain axis and probiotics screening for postmenopausal chronic pain.