[Histochemistry and electron microscopy of the embryonal development of the golden hamster kidney: study of the interstitial cells].

The structure and the origin of the interstitial cells in the kidney of the golden Hamster during its embryonic development was studied. For this purpose kidneys from 11, 13, 15 and 17 day-old embryos were used. The histochemical observations as well as the electron microscopy demonstrated that the interstitial cells have a metanephric origin and are embryonically similar to the cellular elements that differentiate the primordial renal vesicles and later organise the epithelial portion of the nephrons. These cells seem to take part in the formation of the basal membranes during tubular genesis.