Genetic susceptibility of mice to Candida albicans vaginitis correlates with host estrogen sensitivity

We compared susceptibility to Candida vaginitis in derived murine substrains differing in sensitivity to estrogen (CD-1 and CD10, resistant; CD3 and C57BL/6 responsive), and in F1 crosses. The order of decreasing resistance was CD-1 greater than or equal to CD10 greater than or equal to CD10 x CD3F1 > CD10 x B6F1 > CD3 > C57BL/6 and correlated with estrogen responsiveness in endocrine disruptor assays. Resistance to Candida vaginitis appears additive in CD10 x B6F1 animals and dominant in CD10 x CD3F1 animals.