title: [Electron microscopic study on Trichomonas vaginalis adhering to and phagocytizing male genitourinary epithelial cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) adhering to and phagocytizing male genitourinary epithelial cells in order to study the pathogenetic mechanism of male trichomoniasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured T. vaginalis bodies were incubated with male genitourinary epithelial cells, and then the ultrastructure was observed with transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  T. vaginalis adhered to epithelial cells like amoeba, and formed pseudopodium or surface invagination surrounding or nibbling other parts of the epithelial cytoplasm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T. vaginalis has the speciality of adhering to and phagocytizing to male genitourinary epithelial cells. Genitourinary epithelial cells may be injured directly by the phagocytosis of T. vaginalis. Attention has to be paid to the correlation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350004, China. chen.wl@163.com
authors.forename: Wenlie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jinfu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiurong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lianyun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000469:parasitology; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000648:ultrastructure*