Abstract

Kidneys develop in early in 5th week and start to function around 9th week in the intermediate mesoderm of human embryos as metanephric kidney. To correlate the chronological pattern of kidney development in foetuses of different gestational period in the geographical eastern region of India, Odisha & compare the results from other researchers nationwide & worldwide. Aborted human foetuses without obvious congenital anomaly of gestational age between 12 weeks and 36 weeks were collected and processed for histological sections by Haematoxylin and Eosin stain. In our present study we found that Kidney was covered by a thick capsule made up of fibrous tissue beneath which cortico-medullary differentiation was well marked. Glomerulus with afferent & efferent arteioles were present in kidney. Proximal Convoluted Tubules, Distal Convoluted tubules, Collecting tubules & Duct of Bellini visible in medulla. Cortico-medullary junction well differentiated &Cortex is more than Medulla. Lobar & interlobar arteries seen in renal corpuscles. Lobulation & medullary rays visible in cortex. Between medullary rays multiple crescenteric glomeruli were visible. Bowman’s Capsule & subcapsular space present. These structures were absent in younger foetuses & develop in increasing gestational age but the kidney in foetuses were lobulated which was absent successively. From the current study one can conclude that major part of development of fetal kidney occurs during mid-gestational period & continues until the last week of 3rd trimester of gestation.

Keywords: Metanephric Kidney, Proximal Convoluted Tubules, Distal Convoluted Tublules, Collecting Tubules.