[The electron microscopic findings of helicoid bacteria lining the mucosa of the cecum in guinea pigs].

This study has revealed that helical bacteria inhabiting the mucous membrane of the cecum of guinea pigs are localized in the parietal zone of the epithelium and can be detected as biological film consisting of many microcolonies. Helical bacteria are attached to the epithelium by insertion of one of the ends of an eukaryotic cell into the space between microvilli without damaging epithelial cells and their microvilli. Helical bacteria have been found to use the "anchor" type of attachment to the epithelium, which ensures the stability of their high population level in the biotope. These microorganisms appear on the mucous membrane of the epithelium, starting from day 15 of the life of guinea pigs. At the period of the transition of suckling guinea pigs to independent nourishment the population of helical bacteria is partially suppressed due to the appearance of bacillary and filamentous forms of bacteria, but later, after the adaptation of the animals to their diet, helical bacteria become normal resident microflora which forms biofilm covering large areas of the mucous membrane and the entrances of crypts of Lieberkühn.