BACKGROUND: Female infertility can be caused by scarring and occlusion of
the Fallopian tubes. Sexually transmitted bacteria can damage
the delicate epithelial layer of human Fallopian tubes (HFT).
Genital mycoplasmas are associated with human reproductive failure.
Yet, there is not enough evidence that mycoplasmas can cause
tubal factor infertility. We analysed the effects of infections
with
Mycoplasma hominis and
Mycoplasma genitalium on the HFT
epithelium and compared them with the effects of infections
with genital pathogens:
Chlamydia trachomatis and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae. METHODS: We used an
in vitro model in which pieces of normal HFT were
infected with different bacteria, and the outcome of the infections
was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal
microscopy.
RESULTS: The presence of M. hominis did not cause any morphological changes of the epithelium of HFT. Noticeable changes in the morphology of the ciliated cells were observed in M. genitalium-infected tissue. Five days post-infection, the cilia were abnormally swollen and some of the ciliated cells fell off the epithelium. These effects could be inhibited by pre-incubation of M. genitalium with antibody directed against the C-terminal part of the adhesion protein MgPa before infection of HFT organ culture.
CONCLUSION: We have shown that the presence of M. genitalium, but not M. hominis, in the HFT organ culture affected the epithelium and resulted in cilia damage. The effect of infection with M. genitalium on the HFT was, however, very moderate when compared with the extensive damage of the epithelium caused by N. gonorrhoeae or C. trachomatis.