Histogenesis of human fetal kidney.

ABSTRACT

Background: The normal histogenesis of human kidney during fetal life gives us information regarding histological maturation of kidney Objectives: - Present study aims at establishing details of histogenesis of human kidney with time of appearance of various microscopic elements. Methods: - The present study was conducted on kidneys of 59 human foetuses of gestational age ranging from16 to 38 weeks. The pieces of kidneys were processed and paraffin blocks were formed. Sections of kidney were cut which were studied with light microscope after staining. Results: - The subcapsular nephrogenic zone became narrow with increasing fetal age and disappeared at 38 weeks of gestation. In cortex, differentiation occurs from centre to periphery as indicated by more number of mature renal corpuscles and well differentiated proximal convoluted tubule, distal convoluted tubules in deeper part than superficial part of cortex. As the fetal age increases, the number of well differentiated tubules seen in medulla went on increasing. The histological structure of kidney was almost similar to kidney at 35 weeks of gestation. Conclusion:-This may help us in understanding various renal disorders. This study can also be used for determination of age of fetus.