title: Structural changes of dilated pelvic ureters in adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform a quantitative assessment of different types of pelvic ureter tissues with chronic dilation in adults, using stereological methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed fragments of dilated pelvic ureters obtained from 6 patients aged between 35 and 67 years (mean, 46 years) who underwent ureteral reimplantation surgery for different reasons. The obstruction duration ranged from 27 to 180 days (mean, 93 days). The control group included fragments of normal pelvic ureters obtained during nephrectomy in 7 kidney transplant donors (age: range, 25-51 years; mean, 36 years). The volumetric density of collagen in the ureter, elastic fibers, and smooth muscle fibers was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The volumetric density (Vv) of collagen showed no significant difference between the two groups (control: 45.3 ± 6.1; dilated: 40.8 ± 6.9; P = 0.23). A statistically significant increase in Vv of elastic fibers was observed in the dilated ureters (control: 18.4 ± 1.2; dilated: 24.6 ± 5.4; P = 0.03). A statistically significant increase in the Vv of smooth muscle fibers was observed in the dilated ureter (control: 42.0 ± 6.0; dilated: 56.2 ± 6.1; P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chronically dilated pelvic ureters had significantly more elastin and smooth muscle contents than the controls.
authors.affiliation: State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Waldemar Silva
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jose Genilson
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Babinski
authors.affiliation: State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla Braga Mano
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco José Barcellos
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sampaio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014513:Ureter / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen