Renal Embryology Flashcards
renal development - general concepts
*developing fetus has an intermediate mesoderm (IM) which develops craniocaudally from the cervical to lumbar regions of the fetus
*mammals develop 3 pairs of embryonic kidneys sequentially: 1) pronephros; 2) mesonephros; 3) metanephros
renal development - tissues
*at 5 weeks gestation, reciprocal signaling induces the outgrowth of the ureteric bud from the caudal mesonephric duct
*metanephric mesenchyme condenses around the ureteric bud to become metanephric blastema
renal development - timeline
*4 wks gestation: kidneys start developing
*9wks: first glomeruli, bladder
*20-36 wks: nephrogenesis occurs
*~36 wks: nephrogenesis is complete
*at birth, kidney growth is due to enlargement of the glomerular diameter & significant increase in tubular volume and length
nephrogenesis
- vesical differentiates and elongates, forming a comma-shaped, then S-shaped body
- the lower limb of the S-shaped body forms the glomerular podocytes
- endothelial cells migrate into the cleft of the S-shaped body
- the distal end of the S-shaped body elongated and differentiates to from nephron tubules from the proximal tubule to the DCT
- DCT connects to the collecting system
ureteric bud/mesonephric duct differentiate into
COLLECTING SYSTEM:
*ureter
*renal pelvis
*major and minor calyces
*collecting tubules & ducts
*Trigone of bladder
metanephric blastema differentiates into
NEPHRONS:
*podocytes
*epithelial cells lining Bowman’s Capsule
*proximal convoluted tubules
*loop of Henle
*distal convoluted tubules
effects of prematurity on renal development
*human nephrogenesis stops at birth
*therefore, premature infants have REDUCED NEPHRON MASS
*leads to increased risk of hypertension, chronic kidney disease
congenital anomalies of the urinary system (overview)
*renal anomalies are common, 3-20% of live births
*many asymptomatic
*may not manifest until later in life
*causes include: environmental factors (maternal medication exposure, high glucose, folate deficiency) or genetically based
*more than 500 syndromes with genetic basis that involve malformations of the urinary tract
renal duplications
*embryonic anomaly = bifurcation or duplicated ureteric bud
*results in extra ureter
*ectopic expression of GDNF by metanephric mesenchyme more proximally along mesonephric duct
renal agenesis - overview
*embryonic anomaly = faulty interaction between ureteric bud and metanephric mesenchyme
*attributed to mutations of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which plays a role in induction of the ureteric bud
unilateral renal agenesis
*solitary kidney; remaining kidney undergoes compensatory enlargement, such that most patients are asymptomatic
*occurs in 0.1% of adults
*high rate of coexisting urogenital abnormalities
bilateral renal agenesis
*incompatible with extra-uterine life
*results in oligohydramnios, no kidneys, and non-visualized bladder on prenatal ultrasound
*one of the causes of Potter Sequence
Potter Sequence - pathogenesis
*oligohydramnios → compression of developing fetus → limb deformities, facial anomalies (low-set ears and retrognathia, flattened nose), compression of chest and lack of amniotic fluid aspiration into fetal lungs → pulmonary hypoplasia (cause of death)
Potter Sequence - etiology
*caused by chronic placental insufficiency or reduced fetal urine output (oligohydramnios), including:
-ARPKD
-obstructive uropathy (ex. posterior urethral valves)
-bilateral renal agenesis
Potter Sequence - clinical presentation
P - pulmonary hypoplasia
O - oligohydramnios
T - twisted face
T - twisted skin
E - extremity defects
R - renal defects