Primary rabbit kidney proximal tubule cell cultures maintain differentiated functions when cultured in a hormonally defined serum-free medium.

A primary rabbit kidney epithelial cell culture system has been developed which retains differentiated functions of the renal proximal tubule. In addition, the cells have a distinctive metabolism and spectrum of hormone responses. The primary cells were observed to retain in vitro a Na+-dependent sugar transport system (distinctive of the proximal segment of the nephron) and a Na+-dependent phosphate transport system. Both of these transport processes are localized on the apical membrane of proximal tubule cells in vivo. In addition, probenicid-sensitive p-aminohippurate (PAH) uptake was observed in basolateral membranes of the primary tubule cells, and the PAH uptake by these vesicles occurred at a rate that was very similar to that observed with membranes derived from the original tissue. Several other characteristics of the primary cells were examined, including hormone-sensitive cyclic AMP production and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activity. Like the cells in vivo, the primary proximal tubule cells were observed to produce significant cyclic AMP in response to parathyroid hormone, but not in response to arginine vasopressin or salmon calcitonin. Significant PEPCK activity was observed in the particulate fraction derived from a homogenate of primary rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells.