Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 12, 2026

In Utero Intra-cardiac Tomato-lectin Injections on Mouse Embryos to Gauge Renal Blood Flow
10:25

In Utero Intra-cardiac Tomato-lectin Injections on Mouse Embryos to Gauge Renal Blood Flow

Published on: February 4, 2015

Kidney development branches out

G R Dressler1

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, USA. dressler@umich.edu

Developmental Genetics
|May 14, 1999
PubMed

Insights

The developing kidney is a key model for studying epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Advances in renal development research offer insights into the genetic causes of kidney diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Nephrology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The developing kidney has been a model for epithelial-mesenchymal interactions for over 40 years.
  • Modern genetic and biochemical tools are now being used to study kidney development principles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent progress in renal development research.
  • To discuss the potential of various model systems in studying kidney organogenesis.
  • To highlight the connection between renal development and the genetic basis of kidney diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of papers presented in a special issue.
  • Discussion of mammalian kidney organ culture models.
  • Investigation using zebrafish and Xenopus laevis models.

Main Results:

  • Significant progress has been made in understanding inductive signaling, epithelial cell differentiation, and pattern formation in the kidney.
  • Zebrafish and Xenopus laevis models show promise for studying kidney organogenesis in vivo.
  • Advances in renal development research are increasingly illuminating the genetic underpinnings of kidney diseases.

Conclusions:

  • The study of kidney development continues to evolve with new tools and model systems.
  • Understanding renal development is crucial for deciphering the genetic basis of kidney diseases.
  • Interdisciplinary approaches combining genetics, biochemistry, and model organisms are advancing the field.

More Related Videos

Generation of Human Kidney Tubuloids from Tissue and Urine08:34

Generation of Human Kidney Tubuloids from Tissue and Urine

Published on: April 16, 2021

A Simplified Method for Generating Kidney Organoids from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells07:39

A Simplified Method for Generating Kidney Organoids from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: April 13, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Kidney Structure01:45

Kidney Structure

The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.
Filtration and Urine Formation01:32

Filtration and Urine Formation

The function of the kidneys is to filter, reabsorb, secrete, and excrete. Every day the kidneys filter nearly 180 liters of blood, initially removing water and solutes but ultimately returning nearly all filtrates into circulation with the help of osmoregulatory hormones. This process removes wastes and toxins but is also crucial to maintain water and electrolyte levels. Most of these functions are performed by the tiny but numerous nephrons contained within the kidneys.
Internal Anatomy of the Kidney01:12

Internal Anatomy of the Kidney

The kidneys are essential organs in the human body, performing a myriad of tasks that maintain homeostasis and overall health.
Anatomical Position and Dimensions
The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs positioned against the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the spine, roughly between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae. Each kidney is typically 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, and 3-4 cm thick, weighing about 150 grams.
Renal Cortex
The outermost region of the kidney is the...
Blood and Nerve Supply to the Kidney01:18

Blood and Nerve Supply to the Kidney

The kidneys are vital organs responsible for filtering and cleaning blood, removing waste products, and regulating electrolyte levels. To perform these essential functions, they require a constant and robust blood supply.
Bloody Supply to the Kidneys:
The kidneys receive their blood supply from the renal arteries, which branch off from the abdominal aorta—the main artery supplying the abdomen and lower body. The renal arteries enter the kidneys at the hilum, a notch on the medial side of each...
Nephrons01:10

Nephrons

The kidneys are intricate organs with millions of working units known as nephrons. Each nephron features two major structures: the renal corpuscle, which facilitates blood plasma filtration, and the renal tubule, which handles the glomerular filtrate. Blood supply is directly linked to the nephrons. The renal corpuscle consists of the glomerulus, a capillary network, and the Bowman's capsule, a double-walled epithelial structure that encases the glomerulus. The filtering of blood plasma happens...
Anatomy of the Genitourinary System I: Kidneys and Ureters01:11

Anatomy of the Genitourinary System I: Kidneys and Ureters

The upper urinary system comprises two kidneys and two ureters, which are crucial in filtering blood and forming urine.KidneysLocation and Structure:The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs positioned behind the peritoneum on either side of the spine.Kidneys are between the 12th thoracic (T12) and the 3rd lumbar (L3) vertebrae.The position of the liver causes the right kidney to sit slightly lower than the left.Protective Layers:Each kidney is enveloped in a tough, fibrous membrane called the...