Microscopic analysis of vaginal mucosal biofilm formation in vivo and ex vivo. For the in vivo model, mice were administered oestrogen and intravaginally inoculated with C. albicans 3153A (5×104 blastoconidia), and vaginae were harvested at 8, 24, 48 and 72 h. For the ex vivo model, mice were administered oestrogen and vaginae were harvested and inoculated with C. albicans 3153A (106 blastoconidia) and incubated for 8, 24, 48, or 72 h. Tissues were bisected and processed for SEM, CM or fungal burden (Fig. ). SEM images were taken at 1000× magnification, and CM images at 600× magnification. The figure shows representative images of areas of biofilm growth from three independent repeats, n=4 mice or vaginal explants per time point.