Quantitative In Vivo Detection of Chlamydia muridarum Associated Inflammation in a Mouse Model Using Optical Imaging

Figure 4

Elastase680 probe signal, Ly 6B.2 neutrophil immunohistochemistry, and H&E staining in the genital tracts of albino C57B6 mice following intravaginal challenge with C. muridarum. Elastase680 probe signal, Ly 6B.2 neutrophil immunohistochemistry, and H&E staining in the genital tracts of albino C57B6 mice following intravaginal challenge with C. muridarum. Mock-challenged animals show minimal Elastase680 signal (a) and no evidence of inflammation (e, i). At 1 week after challenge, Elastase680 signal is present in the uterine horns (b) and there is no acute inflammation present in the ovaries or oviducts (f, j). At 2 weeks after challenge the Elastase680 signal is primarily present within the ovary/oviduct region, corresponding to areas of an acute inflammatory cell infiltrate (arrows) comprised primarily of neutrophils (g, k). By 3 weeks after challenge the Elastase680 signal was reduced (d) to levels seen in mock-challenged mice and the neutrophilic infiltrate had subsided (h, l).