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Histomorphometric Analysis of Postnatal Glomerulogenesis in Extremely Preterm Infants

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Pediatric and Developmental Pathology

Abstract

Until now oligonephropathy to indicate “too few nephrons” has been associated with intrauterine growth restriction and experimentally induced abnormalities of renal development. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is evidence of abnormal postnatal glomerulogenesis in extremely low birth weight preterm infants. Renal autopsy tissue was studied by computer-assisted morphometry from 56 extremely premature infants (birth weight ≤ 1000 g) and 10 fullterm infants as controls. Preterm infants were divided into two groups (short survival < 40 days vs. long survival ≥40 days). Each group was subdivided into those with renal failure (RF) and those with normal renal function. Forty-two of 56 preterm infants (75%) were adequate for gestational age. Glomerulogenesis as measured by radial glomerular counts (RGC) was markedly decreased in all preterm infants as compared to term controls and correlated significantly with gestational age (r = 0.87; P < 0.001). Active glomerulogenesis with “basophilic S-shaped bodies” was absent in longer surviving preterm and all term infants. RGC of preterm infants surviving ≥40 days with RF were significantly less than RGC of those with long survival and no RF (P < 0.001). Only this latter group demonstrated increased glomerular size as measured by mesangial tuft area and Bowman’s capsule area compared to all other groups (P < 0.001). The kidney continues to form postnatally in preterm neonates, but glomerulogenesis ceases after 40 days. Moreover, it is further inhibited by RF. Compensatory mechanisms in longer surviving preterm infants include glomerular hypertrophy and mesangial proliferation that could lead to hyperfiltration.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Liliane J. Striker and Anna R. Plati from the Laboratory of Renal Cell Biology, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami, for allowing us to use the morphometric analysis system. We also thank Carmen Duboue, HT, ASCP, and Bonnie Cohen, HT, ASCP, for their assistance cutting histologic renal preparations and performing PAS stains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Division of Pediatric Pathology, University of Miami/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, USA

    Maria M. Rodríguez & Alexander H. Gómez

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, University of Miami/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, USA

    Carolyn L. Abitbol, Jayanthi J. Chandar & Gastón E. Zilleruelo

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Miami/Holtz Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL, USA

    Shahnaz Duara

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  1. Maria M. Rodríguez
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  2. Alexander H. Gómez
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  3. Carolyn L. Abitbol
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  4. Jayanthi J. Chandar
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  5. Shahnaz Duara
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  6. Gastón E. Zilleruelo
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Correspondence to Maria M. Rodríguez.

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Rodríguez, M., Gómez, A., Abitbol, C. et al. Histomorphometric Analysis of Postnatal Glomerulogenesis in Extremely Preterm Infants. Pediatr. Dev. Pathol. 7, 17–25 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10024-003-3029-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10024-003-3029-2

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