Abstract：
Nephrons are the functional units which comprise the kidney. Each nephron contains a number of physiologically unique populations of specialized epithelial cells that are organized into discrete domains known as segments. The principles of nephron segment development have been the subject of many studies in recent years. Understanding the mechanisms of nephrogenesis has enormous potential to expand our knowledge about the basis of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), and to contribute to ongoing regenerative medicine efforts aimed at identifying renal repair mechanisms and generating replacement kidney tissue. The study of the zebrafish embryonic kidney, or pronephros, provides many opportunities to identify the genes and signaling pathways that control nephron segment development. Here, we describe recent advances of nephron segment patterning and differentiation in the zebrafish, with a focus on distal segment formation.
摘要：
肾单位是构成肾脏的功能单位。每个肾单位包含许多生理上独特的特化上皮细胞群体,其被组织成称为片段的离散域。近年来，肾单位段发育的原理一直是许多研究的主题。了解肾脏发生的机制具有巨大的潜力，可以扩大我们对肾脏和泌尿道先天性异常（CAKUT）的认识。并有助于正在进行的再生医学努力，旨在确定肾脏修复机制和产生替代肾脏组织。斑马鱼胚胎肾的研究,或者pronephros，提供了许多机会来识别控制肾单位节段发育的基因和信号通路。这里,我们描述了斑马鱼中肾单位段模式和分化的最新进展，专注于远端段的形成。
