Evaluation of bacterial attachment to acid treated bladder epithelium

The technique of rapid (60 seconds) acid treatment of intact rat bladders was used to evaluate bacterial interactions with bladder mucin and mucosal cells. Using the rat model system, SEM indicated that short term acid treatment removed the mucin layer but it also modified the bladder epithelial cell surface. Although the treatment which removed mucin allowed an increase in random bacterial attachment, the increase could also be attributable to acid modification of the mucosa. Examination of acid treated rabbit bladders also showed mucin removal and simultaneously bladder epithelium modification. We conclude that short term acid treatment removes mucin, modifies the epithelial layer, and appears to nonspecifically increase bacterial attachment on the mucosa by modifying the mucosal surface.