Normal foetal kidney volume in offspring of women treated for gestational diabetes.

Aims: The worldwide prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing. Studies in rodent models indicate that hyperglycaemia during pregnancy alters kidney development, yet few studies have examined if this is so in humans. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of treated GDM with foetal kidney size.

Development of the Human Fetal Kidney from Mid to Late Gestation in Male and Female Infants.

Background: During normal human kidney development, nephrogenesis (the formation of nephrons) is complete by term birth, with the majority of nephrons formed late in gestation. The aim of this study was to morphologically examine nephrogenesis in fetal human kidneys from 20 to 41weeks of gestation.

Methods: Kidney samples were obtained at autopsy from 71 infants that died acutely in utero or within 24h after birth.

Effects of preterm birth and ventilation on glomerular capillary growth in the neonatal lamb kidney.

Objectives: Preterm birth is linked to the development of hypertension later in life. This may relate to impaired glomerular capillary growth following preterm birth. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of preterm birth, and/or ventilation, on glomerular capillary growth in the neonatal lamb kidney.

Chronic intrauterine exposure to endotoxin does not alter fetal nephron number or glomerular size.

A reduced nephron endowment early in life adversely impacts on long-term functional reserve in the kidney. A recent study has shown that acute exposure to chorioamnionitis during late gestation can adversely impact on nephrogenesis. The present study aimed to examine the effects of chronic, low-dose endotoxin exposure in utero, during the period of nephrogenesis, on nephron number and glomerular size in preterm lambs.