Morphogenesis of glomerular cysts in renal dysplasia

The glomerular origin and the morphogenesis of the cysts in a case of renal dysplasia are descirbed. On ligh microscopy, islets of cartilage, immature ducts and cortical cysts were found. A primitive glomerular tuft was present in some cysts. On electron microscopy part of the inner surface of the cysts was lined by epithelium with pedicels. These findings suports the hypothesis that the cause of the cysts is the dilatation of the glomerular spaces when the respective glomeruli become functional.