Origin of glomerular capillaries: is the verdict in?

Classical studies with murine embryonic kidneys (metanephroi) grown in organ culture or on the avian chorio-allantoic membrane have suggested that kidney endothelia arise by ingrowth or angiogenesis. More recent studies, however, indicate that glomerular capillaries and arterioles may form in situ by vasculogenesis when more realistic experimental conditions are deployed: these include glomerulogenesis after transplantation of metanephroi to the nephrogenic renal cortex of mice as well as development in oculo. This conclusion is supported by the finding that receptor tyrosine kinases such as VEGFR-1/2 and Tie-1, characteristic of endothelial precursors, are expressed in the metanephros at a stage when no patent vessels are apparent. Further studies are required to determine the origin of endothelial cells in renal vessels of larger calibre.