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Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney
Published on: April 22, 2011
FGF-7 modulates ureteric bud growth and nephron number in the developing kidney
J Qiao1, R Uzzo, T Obara-Ishihara
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Department of Urology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|January 7, 1999
Summary
Fibroblast Growth Factor-7 (FGF-7) signaling is crucial for kidney development. FGF-7 regulates ureteric bud growth, impacting the final nephron count and kidney size.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Nephrology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Clinical studies link reduced nephron number to kidney disease.
- Kidney development involves ureteric bud-induced mesenchyme proliferation into nephrons.
- Fibroblast Growth Factor-7 (FGF-7) signaling is implicated in ureteric bud growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of FGF-7 in regulating ureteric bud growth and nephron formation.
- To determine if FGF-7 influences kidney size and nephron number during development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of kidneys from FGF-7-null and wild-type mice.
- Morphometric analysis of ureteric bud and collecting system size.
- In vitro studies using rodent metanephric kidney organ cultures.
Main Results:
- FGF-7-null kidneys exhibit significantly smaller ureteric buds and collecting systems.
- Mature FGF-7-null kidneys have approximately 30% fewer nephrons than wild-type.
- Elevated FGF-7 in vitro increases ureteric bud growth and nephron formation.
Conclusions:
- FGF-7 signaling is essential for normal ureteric bud elongation during kidney development.
- FGF-7 levels directly modulate the number of nephrons formed.
- This highlights FGF-7 as a key regulator of kidney organogenesis and size.
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