Increased adhesiveness and internalization of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and changes in the expression of epithelial gonococcal receptors in the Fallopiantube of copper T and Norplant (R) users
R. Fernandez et al., Increased adhesiveness and internalization of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and changes in the expression of epithelial gonococcal receptors in the Fallopiantube of copper T and Norplant (R) users, HUM REPR, 16(3), 2001, pp. 463-468
Interaction of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with the oviductal epithelium in vitro
was examined in 2 cm length segments obtained after surgical sterilization
from users of copper T intrauterine device (IUD) or Norplant(R) and contro
l women. Segments perfused with N.gonorrhoeae suspensions were incubated fr
om 30 min up to 4 h, fixed, frozen and cut in 6-10 mum sections. Bacteria w
ere detected immunohistochemically with rabbit anti-gonococcal serum follow
ed by light and confocal microscopy, Adhesion and internalization of gonoco
cci by epithelial cells were observed at all incubation times, and both wer
e higher in explants from users of copper T IUD or Norplant implants than c
ontrols, The epithelium of controls expressed CD66 and syndecan-1; but CD46
was found in only one out of six cases. The epithelium of copper T IUD use
rs expressed CD66 but not syndecan-1 or CD46, Users of Norplant(R) exhibite
d expression of CD46, CD66 and syndecan-1. Label was always found along the
luminal border of the epithelium. There were more intraepithelial lymphocy
tes in users of contraceptive methods than in controls. Results indicate th
at (i) N,gonorrhoeae invade the oviductal epithelium from the first minutes
of exposure, (ii) the epithelium is constitutively endowed with two known
receptors for the gonococcus, CD66 and syndecan-1, (iii) copper T IUD and N
orplant users exhibit higher rates of attachment and internalization of the
gonococcus into the oviductal epithelium associated with changes in expres
sion of gonococcal receptors.