Apoptosis of renal tubular cells in congenital hydronephrosis

Objective To assess apoptosis in congenital hydronephrosis and discuss its clinical significance. Methods Apoptosis was detected in 15 kidneys from children with congenital hydronephrosis (5 mild hydronephrosis, 5 moderate hydronephrosis and 5 seve re hydronephrosis) using the electronmicroscope, in situ gap labeling of fr agmented nuclear DNA and DNA fragmentation analysis. Results Apoptosis was seen in kidneys from children with congenital hydrone phrosis. Margination of nuclear chromatin was identified and rounded apopto tic bodies were seen. The mean apoptotic index was 0.0941 +/- 0.017 in seve re hydronephrosis, 0.0325 +/- 0.0169 in moderate hydronephrosis, and 0.0021 +/- 0.0031 in mild hydronephrosis, There was a significant difference betw een severe and moderate hydronephrosis (P = 0.0005), as well as between mod erate and mild hydronephrosis (P = 0.0154). Moreover, with an increasing de gree of hydronephrosis, the number of apoptotic cells also increased. Five kidneys with severe hydronephrosis and one kidney with moderate hydronephro sis showed typical apoptotic bands. Conclusion Apoptosis might participate in damaging kidneys in children with congenital hydronephrosis.