Deposition of C3 on bacteria in the mouse uterus after mating.
A previous study demonstrated that several species of bacteria were present in the mouse uterine lumen on the day after mating, and that many of these bacteria had immunoglobulins bound to their surface. Neutrophilic leukocytes containing phagocytosed bacteria were also present in the lumen. Since bacteria are phagocytosed efficiently only when they are opsonized by the binding of specific antibody or C3b or both to their surface, we investigated whether the uterine bacteria were coated with C3. Immunolabeling demonstrated that an antigenic portion of C3, possibly C3b, was bound to many of the uterine bacteria. This observation suggests that bacteria in the mouse uterus after mating may be opsonized by both antibody and complement and that phagocytosis of these bacteria by neutrophils may play an important role in returning the uterus to an aseptic state before implantation.
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Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901-6503.
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MB
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology*; D003167:Complement Activation; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003307:Copulation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
D003176:Complement C3