ONTOGENY OF HORMONAL AND EXCRETORY FUNCTION OF THE MESONEPHROS AND METANEPHROS IN THE OVINE FETUS

Using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and imm unohistochemistry we investigated the ontogeny of renin, angiotensinog en and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in the mesonephros at 27 an d 41 days of gestation, and the metanephros at 41 and 64 days of gesta tion in ovine fetuses (term is 145 to 150 days). The volume and compos ition of fetal urine, stored as allantoic fluid were measured in 12 fe tuses at 27 days, and 13 fetuses at 41 days. Renin. angiotensinogen an d ACE were identified in both meso- and metanephroi at 41 days but not in the mesonephros at 27 to 30 days. Allantoic fluid volumes were 21 +/- 3 and 45 +/- 5 ml at 27 to 30 days and 41 days, respectively. This fluid aas significantly different in composition to that of amniotic fluid or maternal plasma. The results suggest that the mesonephros can substantially modify its glomerular filtrate by 27 days of gestation, and can produce local angiotensin II by 41 days.