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The ultrastructural development of distal nephron segments in the human fetal kidney

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Summary

The ultrastructural development of the human distal nephron was studied in fetuses 14–18 weeks of gestational age. The three-dimensional course of the nephrons was traced in serial semi-thin sections. Single semi-thin sections containing defined distal nephron segments were then reembedded, thin-sectioned and analyzed by electron microscopy. In stage I (renal vesicle) and stage II (S-shaped body) epithelial cells were essentially similar in ultrastructure. In stage III there were only minor variations in cell ultrastructure between distal nephron segments, but distinct differences were observed between proximal and distal tubule cells, the former being the most differentiated. The segments which are present in nephrons of adult kidneys could be identified in stage IV and some ultrastructural differences recognized between the cells. However, the amplification of the baso-lateral membrane, which is prominent in iontransporting mature distal segments, was almost absent and the baso-lateral membrane area per unit tubule length was similar in all distal segments. Intercalated cells were present towards the end of the distal convoluted and in the connecting tubule in stage IV but the ampulla of the collecting tubule was composed of cells with a uniform ultrastructure. Cell ultrastructure varied again to some extent in the collecting tubule.

The present observations demonstrate that distal nephron segments in the human kidney are structurally undifferentiated in the early fetal development and suggest that they only to a limited extent are capable of modifying the composition of the tubular fluid.

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  1. Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Jens Dørup & Arvid B. Maunsbach

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  1. Jens Dørup
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  2. Arvid B. Maunsbach
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Dørup, J., Maunsbach, A.B. The ultrastructural development of distal nephron segments in the human fetal kidney. Anat Embryol 164, 19–41 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301876

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