Renal collecting duct cells cultured as globular bodies and as monolayers

Summary

A new procedure for the cultivation of renal collecting duct cells is described. The cells can be cultivated as a polarly differentiated epithelium or as a usual monolayer. Thin explants of cortex from newborn rabbits, consisting of capsula fibrosa with an adherent layer of nephrogenic material (s-shaped bodies and collecting duct anlagen) were isolated and cultured in serum containing medium. Within 24 h the explants formed globular bodies, which were covered by a monolayer of collecting duct epithelium. The epithelium showed polar differentiation with deep tight junctions and lateral intercellular spaces opening to the basal surface. When the globular bodies were cultured in DMEM withD-valine instead ofL-valine the collecting duct cells left the globular body structure, migrated to the bottom of the culture dish, and grew as a monolayer.