Morphometric Examination of the Dilated Rat Ureter

Abstract

Dilatations of the ureter are known in rats with diabetes insipidus as well as after the administration of diuretics (Wladimiroff 1975). Nevertheless, similarities to congenital deformities, such as the primary megaureter, have not been established to date. It has not yet been determined whether in the fetus increased diuresis can lead to a functional overstrain of the transport capacity of the ureter and thus to mutations in the sense of a congenital megaurter. In addition to the direct influence of increased diuresis, teratogenic effects of the administered diuretics during pregnancy are possible. Furthermore, it should be determined whether the dilatation can be classified as an adaptive reaction owing to the increased volume load or as the decompensation of the transport capacity. Effects pertaining to treatment and sex must also play a role in these considerations. By means of this study it should be determined whether congenital deformities and the dilatation of the ureter can be experimentally reproduced in animals and whether the results allow an interpretation regarding the pathological mechanisms in the case of intrauterine increased diuresis.