bbsrc:

Amazing images reveal how kidneys develop

These incredible images have revealed insights into how the kidney develops from a tiny cluster of cells into a complex organ.

The time-lapse pictures of growing mouse kidneys are helping scientists to understand the early stages of development in mammals.

They identified a key moleculecalled beta-catenin that instructs cells to form specialised structures withinthe kidney. These structures – called nephrons –are responsible for filteringwaste products from the blood to generate urine.

If nephrons don’t work properly,
it can cause a wide range of health problems — from abnormal water and salt
loss, to dangerously high blood pressure. The findings will help scientists to
grow nephrons in the lab that can be used to study how kidneys function.

Using the time-lapse technique
also means that the same mice can be studied over time, at different
developmental stages. This significantly reduces the number of animals needed
for this type of research.

The research was funded by the
National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in
Research.

Read more: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/health/2015/150204-pr-kidney-images-reveal-the-secrets.aspx 

Images credit: Dr Nils Lindstromm University of Edinburgh