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Michael A. Pezzone, MD

Associate Professor, Medicine

Education

Valedictorian - New Castle High School 1983. A.B. - Cornell University 1987. M.D., Ph.D. - University of Pittsburgh 1994. Internship - University of Pittsburgh. Residency - University of Pittsburgh GI Fellowship - University of Pittsburgh.

Links

Headshot of Michael A. Pezzone, MD

Dr. Pezzone's research is on visceral pain and the overlap of chronic pelvic pain disorders. Dr. Pezzone and his research group (Dr. Elena E. Eustinova-Gutkin, Ph.D. and Dr. Ruomei Liang, M.D.) are studying, in an animal model, neurogenic pathways mediating cross-sensitization of the urinary bladder and distal colorectum. Their work indicates that the frequent overlap of irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis, and other chronic pain disorders may occur as a consequence of pre-existing neural circuits or afferent (sensory) convergence such that the irritation of one organ leads to co-sensitization of another. Ongoing studies are attempting to elucidate these pathways in greater detail and may shed more light on chronic pelvic pain disorders.

Journal Articles

Sibille E, J Su, S Leman, AM Le Guisquet, Y Ibarguen-Vargas, J Joeyen-Waldorf, G Tseng, MA Pezzone, R Hen and C Belzung. Lack of serotonin1B receptor expression leads to age-related motor dysfunction, early onset of brain molecular aging and reduced longevity. Molecular Psychiatry 12(11):1042-1056, 2007.
Liang R, EE Ustinova, R Patnam, MO Fraser, DW Gutkin and MA Pezzone. Enhanced expression of mast cell growth factor and mast cell activation in the bladder following the resolution of trinitrobenzesulfonic acid (TNBS) colitis in female rats. Neurourology and Urodynamics 26(6):887-893, 2007.
Christianson JA, R Liang, EE Ustinova, BM Davis, MO Fraser and MA Pezzone. Convergence of bladder and colon sensory innervation occurs at the primary afferent level. Pain 128(3):235-243, 2007.
Ustinova EE, DW Gutkin and MA Pezzone. Sensitization of pelvic nerve afferents and mast cell infiltration in the urinary bladder following chronic colonic irritation is mediated by neuropeptides. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 292:F123-130, 2007.
Ustinova E., MO Fraser and MA Pezzone. Colonic irritation in the rat sensitizes urinary bladder afferents to mechanical and chemical stimuli: An afferent origin of pelvic organ cross-sensitization. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 290:F1478-1487, 2006.
Pezzone MA, R Liang and MO Fraser. A model of neural cross-talk and irritation in the pelvis: Implications for the overlap of chronic pelvic pain disorders. Gastroenterology 128:1953-1964, 2005.