A mouse model for the study of gonococcal genital infection.

Intravaginal inoculation of approximately 10(6) piliated gonococci into female mice at different stages of the estrous cycle without any antibiotic pretreatment resulted in gonococcal endometritis. The percentage of mice with positive cultures for Neisseria gonorrhoeae one week after challenge was at least 80%, regardless of at which estrous stage the mice were inoculated. Recovery of gonococci from the uterus continued for more than one month, and the recovery rate appeared to depend on the estrous stage at inoculation. Serum levels of antibodies to crude outer membrane complex began rising one week after inoculation with gonococci and reached a maximum three week after challenge. This animal model is proposed for the study of gonococcal genital infection.