The number of nephrons in the mammalian kidney: environmental influences play a determining role.
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.
Lelièvre-Pégorier
M
M
Unité de Recherches sur le Développement Normal et Pathologique des Fonctions Epithéliales, Inserm U 319, Université Paris 7-Denis Diderot, Paris, France. Pegorier@Paris7.Jussieu.fr
Merlet-Bénichou
C
C
D000818:Animals; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000473:pathology; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D009399:Nephrons / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000473:pathology; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000473:pathology
D005839:Gentamicins