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The Number of Nephrons in the Mammalian Kidney: Environmental Influences Play a Determining Role
Martine Lelièvre-Pégorier, Claudie Merlet-Bénichou

Unité de Recherches sur le Développement Normal et Pathologique des Fonctions Epithéliales, Inserm U 319, Université Paris 7-Denis Diderot, Paris, France

Address of Corresponding Author

Exp Nephrol 2000;8:63-65 (DOI: 10.1159/000020649)

  Key Words

• Kidney organogenesis
• Nephron number
• Birth weight
• Vitamin A
• Drugs
• Diabetes

  Abstract

Several lines of evidence, mostly derived from animal studies, indicate that changes in the fetal environment may affect the renal development. Fetal growth retardation is associated with a nephron deficit in both humans and animals. Changes in the supply of vitamin A to the fetus may be responsible for the variations in the number of nephrons in the human kidney. In utero exposure to hyperglycemia or drugs may also cause a nephron deficit.

Copyright © 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. M. Lelièvre-Pégorier
Inserm U 319, Université Paris 7-Denis Diderot
2, place Jussieu, F-75251 Paris Cedex 05 (France)
Tel. +33 1 43 25 04 70, Fax +33 1 43 25 67 89
E-Mail Pegorier@Paris7.Jussieu.fr

  Article Information

Received: Received: June 1, 1999
Accepted: June 8, 1999
Number of Print Pages : 3
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 20