Developmental profile of DNA synthesis and hydrolase activities in human fetal kidney

This study provides original data on human fetal kidney developing during the 13th to 18th week of gestation. The parameters evaluated were DNA synthesis and the activities of 5 hydrolases which are considered as good markers of the brush border membrane differentiation. The conclusions are that DNA synthesis decreased slightly from the 16th to 18th week. The activities of maltase, trehalase, alkaline phosphatase and leucylnapthylamidase remained nearly stable during the studied period. Only the gamma-glutamyltransferase activity decreased significantly between the 15th and 16th week, then it returned close to the 13th week value. The current results suggest that during the 13-18 week period of gestation, cell proliferation is slowed down while maturation of some enzymic activities of the brush border are not importantly modified. The present basic data might be used as reference standards by investigators in the field of human nephrogenesis.