Delayed clearance from the murine uterus of gonococci enclosed in an artificial polysaccharide matrix

The fate of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the murine uterus and adjacent oviduct following an intrauterine inoculation was investigated. We compared also the rate of clearance of gonococci that were and that were not enclosed in an artificial polysaccharide matrix made of agar. Gonococci suspended in phosphate buffered saline were rapidly eliminated from the murine uterus and few viable cells were recovered 24 h after inoculation. The clearance of agar-enclosed gonococci was markedly delayed and viable cells were recovered 5 days after inoculation. Our data suggest that the presence of an artificial polysaccharide matrix around gonococci enable them to persist much longer in the murine genital tract.