Ultrastructural and immunohistopathological evaluation of intravesical ureters via electron and light microscopy in children with vesicoureteral reflux

PubMedID: 24126283 Purpose We used immunohistochemical methods and transmission electron microscopy to investigate the cytokine profiles and ultrastructural changes in the ureterovesical junction of children with primary vesicoureteral reflux. Materials and Methods A total of 39 distal intravesical ureters were obtained from 23 children who underwent ureteroneocystostomy for primary vesicoureteral reflux. Ureteral wall smooth muscle organization and transforming growth factor-ß1, vascular endothelial growth factor and CD34 were evaluated immunohistochemically and compared to controls, which consisted of 10 age matched autopsy specimens. Ultrastructural evaluations and morphological descriptions were performed semiquantitatively and compared to the published data. Results Of the patients 6 (26%) were male and 17 (74%) were female, and mean ± SD age was 73.2 ± 34.3 months (range 12 to 168). There was no correlation between reflux grade and age (p = 0.39). Smooth muscle disorganization score differed significantly between patients with intravesical ureters and controls (p = 0.01). Transforming growth factor-ß1 levels were significantly higher (p = 0.001) and vascular endothelial growth factor levels and microvessel densities were significantly lower in the patients with reflux compared to controls (both p