The interaction between Neisseria gonorrhoeae and the human cornea in organ culture. An electron microscopic study.

Explants of human corneas in organ culture were used to study the interaction between Neisseria gonorrhoeae and human corneal epithelium at an ultrastructural level. scanning electron microscopy revealed that infection of the corneal explants with N. gonorrhoeae resulted in a rapid adherence of the bacteria to the cell surface. This attachment was probably mediated by pili since only piliated strains were able to adhere to the cells. Upon attachment the bacteria appeared to become engulfed by the epithelial cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed gonococci apparently lying within vacuoles inside the cells within 1 h after inoculation of the bacteria. At prolonged infection (8-24 h), the thickness of the epithelium was found to be considerably reduced. This thinning of the cornea was probably caused by a continuous desquamation of infected cells. Taken together, the present data demonstrate that Neisseria gonorrhoeae is able to adhere and penetrate into intact corneal epithelium and furthermore indicate that human cornea explants in organ culture are a useful model in studies of bacterial-epithelial cell interaction.