Use of specific sugars to inhibit bacterial adherence to equine endometrium in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether specific sugars inhibit adhesion of Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli to equine endometrial epithelial cells in vitro.


METHODS
Endometrial biopsy specimens collected during estrus from 7 healthy mares.


METHODS
Endometrial specimens on glass slides were incubated for 30 minutes at 4 C with suspensions of S. zooepidemicus, P. aeruginosa, or E. coli in phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBSS) alone or with various concentrations of D-(+)-mannose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, D-(+)-glucose, galactose, or N-acetyl-neuraminic acid. Inhibition of bacterial adherence was determined by comparing adhesion of bacteria (i.e., percentage of glandular epithelial cells with adherent bacteria) suspended in each sugar solution with that of bacteria suspended in PBSS.


RESULTS
Mannose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine inhibited adhesion of E. coli and P. aeruginosa to epithelial cells, whereas only mannose inhibited adhesion of S. zooepidemicus. The other sugars did not affect bacterial adherence.


CONCLUSIONS
Mannose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine appear to play a role in adhesion of S. zooepidemicus, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli to equine endometrium. In horses with uterine infections, use of sugars to competitively displace bacteria from attachment sites on cells may provide an adjunct to antibiotic treatment.
King
S S
SS
Department of Animal Science, Food, and Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Science, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901, USA.
Young
D A
DA
Nequin
L G
LG
Carnevale
E M
EM
D000116:Acetylgalactosamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006595:Hexosamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006736:Horses; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008358:Mannose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D013291:Streptococcus
D006595:Hexosamines; D000116:Acetylgalactosamine; D008358:Mannose; D000117:Acetylglucosamine; D005690:Galactose