[Role of tumor necrosis factor-α in infection in the urogenital tract of mice].

Objective: To explore the role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in immune response to urogenital chlamydial infection and urogenital pathology in mice.

Methods: Fifteen female wild-type (WT) C57BL/6J mice and 15 TNF-α receptor knockout (TNF-αR KO) mice were inoculated intravaginally with 1×10 inclusion forming units (IFUs) of live . At 56 days after the first inoculation, 8 mice from each group were subjected to a second inoculation at the same dose.