Point Inoculation of Cultivated Tracheal Mucous Membrane with Bacteria

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Abstract
A broad mucous surface (2 × 30 mm) of rabbit trachea was maintained on a solid agar surface for five days by embedment of a tracheal fragment on hard agar in L-15 medium. After cultivation of the membrane for one day, a constant quantity of bacteria was point inoculated onto the mucous membrane with a platinum microloopful (ca. 0.048 μl) of a cell suspension; the bacteria were localized on the mucous surface without disturbing the mucociliary system. Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus was inoculated onto the mucous surface midway between the laryngeal and the bronchial ends. One day after inoculation, no viable bacteria were detected at the site of inoculation, but the laryngeal end of the surface was infected. The local defense mechanisms of the cultivated mucous membrane were clearly demonstrated. Thereafter, characteristic surface infection developed gradually on the in vitro mucous membrane. The usefulness of this system in investigations of the processes of surface infection of the respiratory tract was considered.

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