Abstract: Objective To investigate the kinetic expression level of chemokines (MCP-1 and MIP-2) in vagina of a murine model of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).Methods The estrogen-treated murine model of VVC was set up.Vaginal specimens were obtained in different duration after inoculation of C.albicans intravaginally.Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was applied to determine MCP-1 and MIP-2 mRNA levels in these tissues.Results Compared with the control mice treated with olive oil,persistent growth of C.albicans was found from the 2nd day to 21st day after inoculation in estrogen-treated mice.Significantly higher levels of MCP-1 mRNA were observed in vaginal tissues in infected estrogen-treated mice than those in other 2 groups,infected but non estrogen-treated mice and estrogen-treated but uninfected mice.The high level of MCP-1 mRNA maintained from the 4th day to 21st day in infected estrogen-treated mice.It was also found that levels of MIP-2 mRNA were significantly higher in the vagina in the 2nd day in 3 groups of mice than those in naive mice,however,no significant difference was shown among 3 groups throughout the study period.Conclusion High level of MCP-1,rather than MIP-2,may be associated with susceptibility to VVC.

Key words: Candidiasis,vulvovaginal, Animal testing alternatives, Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, Macrophage inflammatory proteins