Host defenses in acute pelvic inflammatory disease. I. Bacterial clearance in the murine uterus and oviduct.

Bacterial clearance in the uterine horn and oviduct as a host defense in acute pelvic inflammatory disease was studied in 8- to 12-week-old virgin Balb/c mice. Quantitative cultures of organ homogenates were determined at various intervals following intrauterine injection of a standard inoculum of E. coli by micropuncture technique. The effect of uterine horn ligation and of estrus cycle of inoculated mice was evaluated also. Mean bacterial counts in the uterine horn were significantly higher than in the contiguous oviduct (p less than 0.005), suggesting a barrier function of the uterotubal junction for bacterial passage into the oviduct. Our data suggest a protective role for the uterotubal junction, and demonstrate the influence of uterine obstruction and estrus cycle on bacterial clearance of the oviduct.