Larsen B, Markovetz A J, Galask R P
J Infect Dis. 1976 Nov;134(5):486-9. doi: 10.1093/infdis/134.5.486.
The virgin female laboratory rat has been studied as a model of the ecosystem represented by the vaginal mucosa and its bacterial flora. Gram-stained vaginal smears abtained from rats having normal estrous cycles showed cyclic variation in the number of bacteria present. Viable plate counts of material obtained by vaginal lavage demonstrated daily changes in the density of the bacterial population of the vagina in relation to the estrous cycle. Bacterial counts observed during the estrus phase of the cycle in individual rats were 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than viable counts observed during the metestrus or diestrus phases of the cycle. These studies represent the first reported demonstration that physiologic changes occurring during the estrous cycle control the size of the bacterial population of the vagina.
处女雌性实验大鼠已被作为以阴道黏膜及其细菌菌群为代表的生态系统模型进行研究。从具有正常发情周期的大鼠获取的革兰氏染色阴道涂片显示，存在的细菌数量呈周期性变化。通过阴道灌洗获得的材料的活菌平板计数表明，阴道细菌种群密度与发情周期相关，呈现每日变化。在个体大鼠发情周期的发情期观察到的细菌计数比发情后期或间情期观察到的活菌计数高10000至100000倍。这些研究首次报道了发情周期中发生的生理变化控制着阴道细菌种群的大小。
