Morphometric and Immunohistochemical Study of CK18 in the Mice Kidney at Late Pregnancy

Abstract

Many changes occur during pregnancyin the kidney because the kidney considered a central player in the evolving hormonal milieu of pregnancy.The immunohistochemical reaction showed a CK18 antibody in cortical region that was highly significantin non-pregnant group compared to pregnant group, whiletheimmunohistochemical reaction showed that CK18 antibody in medullary region that was highly significant in non-pregnant group compared to pregnant group.Thedeviation of the CK18 immunohistochemical expression in renal tissues during pregnancy may be related functional phases of the kidney occurring during pregnancy,and the variability of the Ck18 expression in renal tissues of pregnant mice revealed mainly diminished CK18 expression in the tubular epithelia (both convoluted tubules and thin loop of Henle). This conclusion suggesting that the altered tubular function is one of traits of renal physiologic changes characteristic for normal pregnancy.