Growth and differentiation of opossum kidney cells on microscopically transparent microporous membranes.

The growth and differentiation of opossum kidney cells on the recently-developed microscopically transparent microporous membrane are described. Confluent monolayers grown on membranes had twice the cell density of monolayers grown on plastic. Electron microscopy revealed junctional complexes in membrane-grown cells as well as in those cells grown on plastic. Cells grown on membranes, however, displayed more numerous and longer microvilli in addition to demonstrating a greater growth activity. There was an approximate two-fold increase in sodium-dependent phosphate transport per unit area by cells grown on membranes compared to the transport by cells grown on plastic. Phosphate transport by monolayers grown on both membranes and plastic was inhibited by parathyroid hormone (PTH).