Comparison of two stereological methods with counts and diameters of renal tubular profiles for estimating the length of renal tubules

WANG Dan; WEN Xiao-Hong; GUO Yang; XIANG Yu; YANG Zheng-Wei

doi:10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2020.06.025

PDF(11525 KB)

Acta Anatomica Sinica ›› 2020, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (6) : 967-975. DOI: 10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2020.06.025

Comparison of two stereological methods with counts and diameters of renal tubular profiles for estimating the length of renal tubules

WANG Dan¹ WEN Xiao-hong¹ GUO Yang² XIANG Yu2YANG Zheng-wei^2*#br#

Author information +

History +

Abstract

Objective To compare the two stereological method based on profile counts and diameters for the estimation of renal tubular length. Methods Nine kidneys from 2-month-old normal male SD rats were obtained and isotropic random sections (methacrylate resin-embedded) were prepared with the orientator for stereological measurement after staining with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reagent and hematoxylin. The length of renal tubule segments (including collecting ducts, not including the thin segments of Henle’s loops) was estimated by counting the number of central lumens of renal tubular profiles on sections. Approximate round or elliptical renal tubular profiles with an apparent lumen were sampled and their diameters (round profiles) or short diameters (elliptical profiles) were measured; from the mean of squared diameters, the cross-sectional area of renal tubules (assumed as cylindrical structures) was calculated for the length estimation in combination with the volume of renal tubules. Results The ratio of the total length of renal tubules per kidney as estimated with profile diameters to that estimated with profile counting was 1.43 on average (coefficient of variation 7.2%), i.e. the method with profile diameters overestimated the renal tubular length by more than 40%. Conclusion The method of estimating renal tubule length with the short diameters is not reliable.

Key words

Kidney / Renal tubule / Length / Histology / Stereology / Rat

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

WANG Dan WEN Xiao-hong GUO Yang XIANG Yu YANG Zheng-wei. Comparison of two stereological methods with counts and diameters of renal tubular profiles for estimating the length of renal tubules[J]. Acta Anatomica Sinica. 2020, 51(6): 967-975 https://doi.org/10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2020.06.025

References

［1］ Yang ZhW. Essential Tools for Morphometric Studies of Biological Tissues: Practical Stereological Methods ［M］. Beijing: Science Press, 2012: 40-53, 72-83, 90-93, 174-179. (in Chinese)

杨正伟. 生物组织形态定量研究基本工具: 实用体视学方法［M］. 北京: 科学出版社, 2012: 40-53, 72-83, 90-93, 174-179.

［2］ Mattfeldt T, Mall G, Gharehbaghi H, et al. Estimation of surface area and length with the orientator ［J］. J Microsc, 1990, 159(3): 301-317.

［3］ Hoseini L, Roozbeh J, Sagheb M, et al. Nandrolone decanoate increases the volume but not the length of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules of the mouse kidney ［J］. Micron, 2009, 40(2): 226-230.

［4］ Karbalay-Doust S, Noorafshan A, Pourshahid SM. Taxol and taurine protect the renal tissue of rats after unilateral ureteral obstruction: a stereological survey ［J］. Korean J Urol, 2012, 53(5): 360-367.

［5］ Shirazi M, Soltani MR, Jahanabadi Z, et al. Stereological comparison of the effects of pentoxifylline, captopril, simvastatin, and tamoxifen on kidney and bladder structure after partial urethral obstruction in rats ［J］. Korean J Urol, 2014, 55(11): 756-763.

［6］ Rafati A, Hoseini L, Babai A, et al. Mitigating effect of resveratrol on the structural changes of mice liver and kidney induced by cadmium; a stereological study ［J］. Prev Nutr Food Sci, 2015, 20(4): 266-275.

［7］ Walton SL, Moritz KM, Bertram JF, et al. Lengths of nephron tubule segments and collecting ducts in the CD-1 mouse kidney: an ontogeny study ［J］. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 2016, 311(5): F976-F983.

［8］ Akbari M, Goodarzi N, Tavafi M. Stereological assessment of normal Persian squirrels (Sciurus anomalus) kidney ［J］. Anat Sci Int, 2017, 92(2): 267-274.

［9］ Sadeghinezhad J, Nyengaard JR. Cat kidney glomeruli and tubules evaluated by design-based stereology ［J］. Anat Rec (Hoboken), 2019, 302(10): 1846-1854.

［10］ Zhengwei Y, McLachlan RI, Bremner WJ, et al. Quantitative (stereological) study of the normal spermatogenesis in the adult monkey (Macaca fascicularis) ［J］. J Androl, 1997, 18(6): 681-687.

［11］ Zhang RD, Wen XH, Kong LS, et al. A quantitative (stereological) study of the effects of experimental unilateral cryptorchidism and subsequent orchiopexy on spermatogenesis in adult rabbit testis ［J］. Reproduction, 2002, 124(1): 95-105.

［12］ Ma L, Guo Y, Yuan Y, et al. Morphometric study of the testis and reproductive tract (including sperm granuloma) after vasectomy in mature rats ［J］. Asian J Androl, 2016, 18(1): 66-73.

［13］ Kang J, Dai XS, Yu TB, et al. Glycogen accumulation in renal tubules, a key morphological change in the diabetic rat kidney ［J］. Acta Diabetol, 2005, 42(2): 110-116.

［14］ Li YY, Huang J, Guo Y, et al. Development of key structures in the rat spleen: a morphometric study from birth to 12 months of age ［J］. Acta Anatomica Sinica, 2017, 48(3): 348-352. (in Chinese)

李阳友, 黄静, 郭洋, 等. 大鼠脾脏主要结构的发育——从出生至12月龄的形态学定量［J］. 解剖学报，2017, 48(3): 348-352.

［15］ Li JG, Xue TY. Urinary system. In: Cheng LZh, Zhong CP, Cai WQ. Contemporary Histology ［M］. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technological Literature Publishing House, 2003: 916-967. (in Chinese)

李建国, 薛同一. 泌尿系统. 见: 成令忠, 钟翠平, 蔡文琴. 现代组织学［M］. 上海: 上海科学技术文献出版社, 2003: 916-967.

［16］ Verlander JW. Urinary system. In: Eurell A, Frappier BL. Dellmann’s Textbook of Veterinary Histology ［M］. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2006: 212-232.

［17］ Gundersen HJ. Stereological estimation of tubular length ［J］. J Microsc, 2002, 207(2): 155-160.