title: Perinatal development of the rat kidney: apoptosis and epidermal growth factor.
abstract: Localization of apoptotic cells in the kidney of perinatal rats was examined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d-UTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and electron microscopy. Perinatal changes in the percentage of kidney cells with DNA fragmentation were determined by flow cytometric analysis. Through observation of two successive sections, the relationship between the localization of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) positive cells and TUNEL positive cells in the kidney was determined. From fetal day 18 to neonatal day 5, TUNEL positive cells were noted in immature glomeruli, collecting ducts and interstitium. Electron microscopically, chromatin condensed nuclei and apoptotic bodies were seen in the same tissue component as the TUNEL positive cells. The percentage of DNA fragmented cells significantly increased from fetal days 18 to 20 and significantly decreased from fetal days 20 to 22, while they still remained low in the neonatal period. The TUNEL positive cells in immature glomeruli and collecting ducts were not reactive to the EGFR antibody. The TUNEL positive cells were not observed in the proximal tubular cells, which were positive to EGFR antibody. These results indicate that apoptotic cells are present in the kidney throughout the perinatal period in the rat and that EGF plays an important role in perinatal development of the rat kidney.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Division of Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Sakai, Osaka 599-8531, Japan. okada@vet.osakafu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Asako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mukamoto
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusakabe
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kiso
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morioka
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morikawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors