Alteration of growth, infectivity, and viability of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by gonadal steroids.

This report concerns the interaction of gonadal steroids with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Growth of gonococci in nutrient broth was inhibited by testosterone propionate at 20 and 40 mug/ml, and by testosterone and 19-nortestosterone at 40 mug/ml. Progesterone was more effective than the three androgens; concentrations as low as 1 mug/ml significantly inhibited growth. A specific relationship of the degree of growth inhibition to the quantity of organisms present was apparent. In addition, progesterone influenced gonococcal virulence. Inoculation of chick embryos with untreated organisms produced a 73% mortality, whereas inoculation of hormonally treated organisms produced a 34% mortality. Progesterone appeared to retard optimal cell functioning. Studies on the viability of gonococci in nutrient broth indicated a steroidal enhancement of survival. In control suspensions, viable organisms were detected for 15 days; in suspensions containing progesterone at 10 mug/ml, viable gonococci were detected for 25 days. Hormonally treated bacteria that had remained viable for 22 days retained virulence for chick embryos. The data are discussed in terms of possible modification of gonococcal pathogenesis.