Abstract

The impairment of digestive and urological functions during spinal cord and cauda equina pathologies (acquired spinal cord injury - congenital - Spina bifida) as well as during chronic pelvic pain (e.g. endometriosis) are at the origin of important complaints from patients and have a strong impact on their quality of life. In addition, these dysfunctions are the cause of significant morbidity, particularly in the population with spinal cord injury, and are a source of rehospitalization. The management of these disorders is still imperfect, probably due to a lack of knowledge of the underlying physiopathology. In particular, the involvement of the enteric nervous system and the intestinal epithelial barrier in the digestive disorders as well as the existence of 'mirror' disorders of the urothelium in the vesico-sphincter disorders observed in these pathologies remain to be identified. Moreover, the role of digestive and urinary microbiota, and of inflammation in the contribution of these disorders also remain to be identified.
Thus, in this context, this axis is structured around 2 translational research projects combining the analysis of preclinical models, follow-up of patient cohorts with biocollections of tissues and cellular, molecular and innovative imaging approaches