Fig. 1: Chronic visceral pain led to changes in food preference.

a Timeline for establishing and testing the chronic visceral pain model. b The colorectal distension (CRD) threshold in CON and NCI mice from weeks 6 to 12 (n = 8 mice/group, p < 0.0001 in 6 and 8weeks, p < 0.0001 in 10 weeks, p = 0.0011 in 12weeks). c Experimental model of food preference. d Heatmaps of mouse location throughout the free-feeding tests. e The percentage of time spent in each food zone and percentage of each type of liquid intake (n = 9 mice/group, Food zone time: p < 0.0001 in IL, p = 0.0002 in S; Food intake percentage: p < 0.0001 in IL, p < 0.0001 in S). f Correlation between the percentage of food zone time and percentage of food intake (p < 0.0001, r = 0.7318). g Body weights of CON and NCI mice (n = 9 mice/group, p = 0.0003 in 12 h). h Intraperitoneal injection of ibuprofen or indomethacin significantly relieved visceral pain (n = 9 mice/group, p < 0.0001 in ibuprofen and indomethacin). i The percentage of time spent in each food zone and percentage of each type of liquid intake (n = 9 mice/group, Food zone time: p = 0.0052 and 0.0203 in ibuprofen, p = 0.0087 and 0.0053 in indomethacin; Food intake percentage: p < 0.0001 in ibuprofen, p < 0.0001 in indomethacin). All the data are presented as the means ± SEMs. Two-way ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple comparisons test (b, e, g–i). Linear regression and Correlation (f). *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.