[Experimental candida vaginitis in the mouse (author's transl)].

Manifest Candida albicans infection of the vagina of mice was achieved only after oestrogen treatment. Histologically, different phases of vaginal candidiasis could be observed: the mycotic infection began with a massive colonization of Candida albicans in the horny layers of the vaginal epithelium and an early immigration of granulocytes. Abscess-like changes followed when high number of yeast cells were used for infection. One to two weeks after onset the inflammatory changes decreased and fungi were no longer identifiable in epithelial micro-abscesses by the methods employed. In contrast, yeast cells could be detected within the vaginal skin exhibiting weak inflammatory lesions up to the 57th day. Chemotactic studies showed that the fungi considerably stimulated the migration of mouse granulocytes in the presence of serum. Since mannan isolated from the Candida cell wall also possesses strong chemotactic activity, certain components of the fungal cell wall may play a pathogenic role in Candida colpitis.