Electron microscopic study on Trichomonas vaginalis adhering to and phagocytizing male genitourinary epithelial cells / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) adhering to and phagocytizing male genitourinary epithelial cells in order to study the pathogenetic mechanism of male trichomoniasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cultured T. vaginalis bodies were incubated with male genitourinary epithelial cells, and then the ultrastructure was observed with transmission electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>T. vaginalis adhered to epithelial cells like amoeba, and formed pseudopodium or surface invagination surrounding or nibbling other parts of the epithelial cytoplasm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>T. vaginalis has the speciality of adhering to and phagocytizing to male genitourinary epithelial cells. Genitourinary epithelial cells may be injured directly by the phagocytosis of T. vaginalis. Attention has to be paid to the correlation.</p>