Title: Growth and effect of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in organ cultures.

POPLINE Document Number: 018380

Author(s):

Carney FE Jr
Taylor-Robinson D

Source citation:

British Journal of Venereal Diseases, 1973 Oct;49(5):435-40.

Abstract:

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is highly host-specific. Apart from the successful experimental infection of chimpanzees and infection of subcutaneous foreign bodies implanted in small laboratory animals, it has not been possible to infect or produce disease in species other than men. This almost total inability to infect laboratory animals has hampered studies on the mechanism of pathogenicity. We considered that the use of organ cultures, in which the relationships between tissues remain essentially undisturbed, would provide an alternative approach to studying the interaction between host cell and microorganism. The motility of cilia on ciliated epithelial surfaces provides an index of cell viability and loss of ciliary activity due to the effect of an organism that can be easily assessed. We have, therefore, inoculated follopian tube organ cultures with N. gonorrhoeae, a bacterium known to be responsible for some cases of acute salpingitis. In addition, we have inoculated the same bacterium into organ cultures of another ciliated epithelial membrane, namely the trachea. In this case, tissue was derived not only from human but also from other mammalian and avian sources. The cultures were examined for growth of the organisms and for damage caused by them. (author's) (Summary in FRE)

Keywords:

Infections
Laboratory Procedures
Histology
Fallopian Tubes
Diseases
Laboratory Examinations and Diagnoses
Examinations and Diagnoses
Biology
Genitalia, Female
Genitalia
Urogenital System
Physiology