Zinc deficiency promotes cystitis-related bladder pain by enhancing function and expression of Cav3.2 in mice.

•Deficiency of zinc, known to inhibit Cav3.2, promoted cystitis-related bladder pain.•Zinc deficiency promoted Cav3.2 overexpression in mice with cystitis.•Zinc deficiency elevated Egr-1, known to promote Cav3.2 expression, during cystitis.•Zinc deficiency augmented USP5, known to reduce Cav3.2 degradation, during cystitis.•Blocking H2S formation reduced the cystitis-related bladder pain and Cav3.2 overexpression.