Protection of cultured renal tubular epithelial cells from anoxic cell swelling and cell death.

In order to study the relationship between cell swelling and cell death due to ischemia, we have developed an in vitro model by using primary cultures of renal tubular epithelial cells. With this model, we have studied two components of ischemia--namely, anoxia along with substrate deprivation. After 2 hr of anoxia in the absence of substrate, the cultured cells swelled and blebbed. Cells similarly treated in the presence of 8% polyethylene glycol, an oncotic agent, did not swell and bleb, and when cells were counted 18 hr later, similar numbers of cells were seen as in the untreated cultures. However, tubule cells exposed to anoxia without 8% polyethylene glycol had 50% fewer cells 18 hr later. Therefore, if cell swelling is prevented during 2 hr of anoxia, cell viability is improved.