Methods for selecting drugs that affect bowel movement disorders and pain

摘要

A method is provided for evaluating agents for the treatment of different intestinal motility disorders, using distinct methodological parts related to musculature and nerves of the GI tract which communicate with the brain. In particular, the present invention provides a method for the selection of an agent effective for the treatment of an intestinal motility disorder, wherein said method comprises: a) a step of spatiotemporal (ST) mapping carried out on a gastrointestinal segment to analyse the effect of said agent on gastrointestinal motility; and b) a step of ex vivo nerve bundle recording carried out on a gastrointestinal segment to analyse the effect of said agent on mesenteric afferent nerve firing. Bacterial strains selected by the methods of the invention and the use of said bacterial strains in the treatment of intestinal motility disorders are also provided.