FIG. 6.

Effects of pseudoestrus on vaginal epithelial-cell-mediated anti-Candida activity. Groups of 10 to 12 mice were treated with 2 weekly subcutaneous injections of estradiol valerate (0.2 mg/mouse) (Est) or sesame seed oil alone (Non-est). Animals were sacrificed, and vaginal epithelial cells were isolated from excised vaginas. Epithelial cells were cultured in triplicate together with C. albicans blastoconidia for 9 h at various E:T ratios in the presence of [³H]glucose. At the conclusion of the culture period, the cultures were harvested and [³H]glucose uptake by C. albicans was determined by liquid scintillation. Each point is the mean percent inhibition ± standard error of the mean (SEM) for three experiments. Asterisks, significant differences (P < 0.05).