The effect of Trichomonas vaginalis and the role of pH on cell culture monolayer viability.
In vitro, Trichomonas vaginalis produces contact-dependent cytotoxicity in which the monolayers are disrupted and monolayer cells die. In contrast, when cell-free filtrates of T. vaginalis culture supernatants are applied to a monolayer, detachment occurs but cell viability is maintained. Growth of T. vaginalis in culture results in a dramatic fall in pH. Both in systems where T. vaginalis grew in physical contact with McCoy cells and where they were physically separate, monolayers still disrupted; but the rate of death of McCoy cells significantly decreased when pH was rigidly controlled. This would indicate that cell death attributed to contact-dependent cytotoxicity is in part due to the drop in pH when T. vaginalis is grown in vitro.
Department of Medicine, Ottawa General Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ontario.
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Garber
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Bowie
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity