ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Urogenital infections of bacterial origin have a high incidence among the female population at reproductive age, affecting the fertility. Strains of Escherichia coli can colonize the vagina and replace natural microflora. Lactobacillus the predominant vaginal microorganism in healthy women, maintains the acidic vaginal pH which inhibits pathogenic microorganisms. Studies on Lactobacillus have shown that these can inhibit E. coli growth and vaginal colonization. An alternative therapeutic approach to antimicrobial therapy is to re-establish Lactobacillus in this microbiome through probiotic administration to resurge fertility. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the capability of L. plantarum 2621 strain with probiotic properties, to prevent the vaginal colonization of E. coli causing agglutination of sperms and to evaluate its profertility effect in a murine model. methods: Screened mice were divided into five groups i.e. control group, E. coli group, Lactobacillus group, prophylactic and therapeutic groups. The control group was infused with 20 μl PBS, E.coli group was administered with 106cfu/20 μl E. coli, and probiotic group was administered with Lactobacillus (108cfu/20 μl) for 10 consecutive days. In prophylactic group, the vagina was colonized with 10 consecutive doses of Lactobacillus (108cfu/20 μl). After 24 h, it was followed by 10 day intravaginal infection with E. coli (106 cfu/20 μl) whereas for the therapeutic group vagina was colonized with (106cfu/20 μl) E. coli for 10 consecutive days, followed by 10 day intravaginal administration with Lactobacillus after 24 h. Results: Upon mating and completion of gestation period, control, probiotic and the therapeutic groups had litters in contrast to the prophylactic group and the group administered with E. coli. Interpretation & conclusions: Results indicated that Lactobacillus intermitted colonization of pathogenic strains that resulted in reinforcement of natural microflora and resurge fertility.
ABSTRACT
Background: Infertility outcomes may be associated with the infections that would lead to morphological defects of spermatozoa in vitro. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 2621 (L. plantarum) on adherence of sperm agglutinating Escherichia coli (E. coli) in vitro and in vivo as well as its effect on fertility outcome. Materials and Methods: Interference of E. coli adherence to vaginal epithelial cells (VECs) by L. plantarum was studied by carrying out different assays such as exclusion, competition and displacement. Further, in vivo study was carried out in mouse model to evaluate the effect of presence of L. plantarum against E. coli and its effect on fertility outcome by administering intravaginally at one hour interval between L. plantarum (108c.f.u./20μl) and different concentrations of E. coli (102,104, and 106 c.f.u/20 μl) for ten consecutive days. Results: 116•8 bacteria/VEC adhesion levels were observed for L. plantarum 2621 whereas values for E. coli were 60•5 bacteria/VEC. L. plantarum interfered to different extents with the adherence of E. coli. L. plantarum 2621 decreased the adhesion by displacement and competition in a significant level (90.3% and 68.5% of inhibition). L. plantarum 2621 also excluded the E. coli attached to VEC (25.8% of inhibition).Upon mating and completion of gestation period 100% fertility was observed with 108c.f.u./20μl L. plantarum and 102 c.f.u/20μl E. coli, whereas 100% females were infertile when administered with 106 c.f.u/20μl of E. coli alongwith 108c.f.u./20μl L. plantarum and only 50% fertility outcome was observed with 104 c.f.u/20μl E. coli. Conclusion: Results indicated that L. plantarum displaces colonization of E. coli and endows competition that resulted in reinforcement of natural microflora and affects fertility outcome depending on the presence and count of E. coli.