Histoautoradiographic studies of 3H-thymidine labelled Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae introduced into albino mice.
S-forms of E. rhusiopathiae were cultivated in a 3H-thimidine-containing medium. A suspension washed three times in succession was intravenously injected into albino mice. At certain intervals liver, spleen and kidney were examinated by routine autoradiogrphy. Intact labelled bacteria were found as early as 5 min after administration in the blood capillaries, around cells of the RES and in some nuclei of hepatocytes. Later they are detected in the cytoplasm of micro- and macrophages, around megacaryocytes and in some of their nuclei. After 6 h the labelled population sharply decreases due to a very active reproduction and mortality of the initial population. The localisation of bacteria in liver nuclei and the spreading of S-forms of E. rhusiopathiae in comparison with the avirulent L-forms therefrom are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D004888:Erysipelothrix / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004889:Erysipelothrix Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D009928:Organ Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence