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New imaging tools to measure nephron number in vivo: opportunities for developmental nephrology

Part of: Advance Imaging in DOHaD

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2020

K.M. Bennett Open the ORCID record for K.M. Bennett [Opens in a new window] ,
E.J. Baldelomar ,
D. Morozov ,
R.L Chevalier  and
J.R Charlton
K.M. Bennett*
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
E.J. Baldelomar
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
D. Morozov
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
R.L Chevalier
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
J.R Charlton
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
*
Address for correspondence: K.M. Bennett, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine, Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, 4525 Scott Ave, Room 2313, St. Louis, MO63110, USA. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The mammalian kidney is a complex organ, requiring the concerted function of up to millions of nephrons. The number of nephrons is constant after nephrogenesis during development, and nephron loss over a life span can lead to susceptibility to acute or chronic kidney disease. New technologies are under development to count individual nephrons in the kidney in vivo. This review outlines these technologies and highlights their relevance to studies of human renal development and disease.

Keywords

magnetic resonance imagingkidney developmentnephron numberglomerulusCFE-MRIimaging
Type
Review
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , April 2021 , pp. 179 - 183
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2020

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