Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Microsc Res Tech. 2024 Sep;87(9):2053-2062. doi: 10.1002/jemt.24578. Epub 2024 Apr 24.
The rabbit is widely used as a laboratory animal in experimental models of kidney diseases. This species is also important from a veterinary perspective as a companion animal. Stereology has been accepted as an accurate approach to kidney morphometry. The objective of the present project was to provide normal quantitative stereological parameters for adult rabbit kidneys. The left kidneys of five adult male New Zealand rabbits were used. Isotropic sections were obtained using the orientation method. Total kidney volume was calculated by the Cavalieri principle. The volume fraction of the renal structures was estimated using the point counting system. The lengths of the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) and distal convoluted tubule (DCT) were calculated using counting frames. The total glomerular number was accounted for using the physical/fractionator technique. The mean glomerular volume was obtained by dividing the total volume of glomeruli by their total number. The total volume of rabbit kidneys calculated was 10.39 ± 1.98 cm. The fractional volume of the kidney cortex and medulla accounted for 57.79 ± 0.65% and 42.2 ± 0.65%, respectively. The total glomerular volume was 2.18 ± 0.32% of the whole kidney. The total number of glomeruli in the rabbit kidney was estimated as 204.68 ± 12 × 10. The mean glomerular volume measured 1.07 ± 0.12 × 10 μm. The total length of PCT and DCT was 2.96 ± 0.29 km and 1.38 ± 0.24 km, respectively. These findings can be used as a reference in experimental nephrology research and may help to expand the knowledge of nephrology in mammals by comparing with available data on humans and other species. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Three-dimensional morphometry of adult rabbit kidney structures was analyzed using quantitative stereology. Total volume of kidney, fractional volume of cortex and medulla, length of renal tubules and number of nephrons were estimated. These three-dimensional morphometrical data can be used as a reference in experimental nephrology research and may help to expand the knowledge of nephrology in mammals.
兔子被广泛用作肾脏疾病实验模型中的实验动物。从兽医的角度来看，这种物种也是一种重要的伴侣动物。体视学已被公认为肾脏形态计量学的一种准确方法。本项目的目的是为成年兔肾脏提供正常的定量体视学参数。使用 5 只成年雄性新西兰兔的左肾。使用定向法获得各向同性切片。通过 Cavalieri 原理计算肾脏总容积。使用点计数系统估计肾脏结构的体积分数。使用计数框计算近端曲管（PCT）和远端曲管（DCT）的长度。使用物理/分选型技术计算肾小球总数。通过将肾小球的总容积除以其总数来获得肾小球的平均体积。计算出的兔肾总容积为 10.39±1.98cm。肾脏皮质和髓质的体积分数分别为 57.79±0.65%和 42.2±0.65%。肾脏的总肾小球体积占整个肾脏的 2.18±0.32%。兔肾的肾小球总数估计为 204.68±12×10。测量的肾小球平均体积为 1.07±0.12×10μm。PCT 和 DCT 的总长度分别为 2.96±0.29km 和 1.38±0.24km。这些发现可作为实验肾病学研究的参考，并通过与人类和其他物种的现有数据进行比较，有助于扩展哺乳动物肾病学的知识。研究亮点：使用定量体视学分析成年兔肾脏结构的三维形态。估计肾脏的总容积、皮质和髓质的体积分数、肾小管的长度和肾单位的数量。这些三维形态计量学数据可作为实验肾病学研究的参考，并通过与人类和其他物种的现有数据进行比较，有助于扩展哺乳动物肾病学的知识。
