Phenolsulphotransferase: Localization in Kidney During Human Embryonic and Fetal Development

In the 1994 study, researchers found that phenolsulphotransferase (PST) is initially localized in the ureteric bud derivatives of the developing human kidney and later in the nephrons, with high reactivity in the proximal tubules by mid-fetal life. The mesonephric duct and tubules also showed PST immunoreactivity early in development. The study suggests that PST enzymes are essential during active nephrogenesis and play a role in the kidney's detoxification processes. Additionally, the distribution of PST immunoreactivity changes throughout development, which may influence the kidney's susceptibility to teratogenic effects from bioactivated compounds. The findings also indicate that the sulphation of compounds, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), is important for development and differentiation.