Purpose: We analyzed the dynamics of the renal tissue response to experimental fetal urinary flow impairment concerning renal morphology, extracellular matrix composition, regulators of connective tissue degradation and PAX2 protein expression.
Materials and methods: A total of 26 fetal lambs underwent surgical unilateral ureteral obstruction at 90 days of gestation and 14 twin matched animals served as controls. Kidneys were harvested 10, 20 and 40 days after the prior procedure in groups 1 to 3, respectively and in 1-month-old lambs (group 4). Morphological analysis was done using light microscopy. Picrosirius red staining was used to evaluate the area occupied by extracellular matrix components. Collagen I, III and IV, alpha-smooth muscle actin, MMP-1, 2 and 9, TIMP-1 and 2 and PAX2 protein were assessed using immunochemistry.
Results: All obstructed kidneys were hydronephrotic without dysplasia. Hypoplasia resulting from a decreased NGG was observed. The inflammatory response to obstruction was poor in fetal obstructed kidneys. From 10 days after obstruction interstitial fibrosis was noted and confirmed by an increase in picrosirius red staining. In obstructed kidneys immunochemistry showed an increase in collagen deposition beginning from the papillae and extending through the whole parenchyma. Aberrant interstitial collagen IV deposition was observed. The increase in alpha-smooth muscle actin staining was mainly localized in the blastema and interstitial cells in obstructed kidneys. MMP and TIMP immunostaining was mainly present in tubules throughout the whole nephrogenic period and persisted in mature kidneys. Beginning from 20 days after obstruction a progressive increase in MMP and TIMP expression was noted. This was associated with ectopic expression in the medullary tubules. PAX2 protein was highly expressed in the nephrogenic zone, decreasing progressively to being markedly decreased in control lamb kidneys. No difference was found in PAX2 expression during the fetal period when comparing unobstructed and obstructed kidneys, it but remained strongly expressed in the dilated collecting ducts of obstructed lambs.
Conclusions: Complete unilateral ureteral obstruction performed in fetal lambs at 90 days of gestation led to pure hydronephrotic transformation, hypoplasia and a marked increase in connective tissue deposition. Inflammatory infiltrates and PAX2 dysregulation were not seen as having a decisive role in these modifications.