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Further observations on the phagocytosis of Candida albicans by Hamster and Human Oocytes
Author(s) -
Koeheler James K.,
Clark Judy M.,
Dianne Smith W.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.1080280113
Subject(s) - phagocytosis , biology , candida albicans , yeast , hamster , microbiology and biotechnology , incubation , oocyte , incubation period , embryo , biochemistry
Pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans , were incubated with hamster and human oocytes for up to 21 hours in order to determine the nature and time course of phagocytosis of these organisms. Aliquotes of the interacting cells were taken at various time intervals for electron microscopic examination. Some specimens had their zona pellucidae enzymatically removed prior to incubation with yeast, and these specimens showed the most extensive interaction and phagocytosis of Candida . The zona pellucida appears to be an effective barrier to yeast, at least over the time span studied. The observations are consistent with the hypothesis of an initial attachment of yeast via a surface component to oocyte microvilli followed by phagocytic uptake into an endosome. There is no compelling evidence of lysosomal degradation of the yeast over the time course of this study; however, the oocytes appear to undergo some degenerative changes at long incubation times.