Histoautoradiographic studies on the fate of 3H-thymidine labelled L-forms of E. rhusiopathiae in albino mice.

L-forms of Erysipelotrix rhusiopathiae labelled with 3H-thymidine were intravenously administered to albino mice. Autoradiographic studies of the liver, kidney and spleen were undertaken at periods ranging from 2 minutes to 15 days. On the second minute following the administration of the radioactive material whole labelled microorganisms and chains of silver grains were recovered in the examined organs. Up to the 15th minute labels were observed also in the cells of the RES. Following the 30th minute the silver grains were positioned at a characteristic site in the Golgi region of the hepatocytes. At the same time in the kidney they were localized in the glomerular space and in the lumen of the renal tubules, whereas in the spleen - mainly around the megakaryocytes. By the 15th day labelling gradually diminished, single silver grains being found over some nuclei of megakaryocytes, liver and kidney parenchymal cells. The present study throws light over some aspects of the interrelationship between the micro- and macroorganism concerning the mechanisms of desintegration, elimination and the uptaking of labelled microbial DNA.