INVITRO INCUBATION AND STUDY OF KIDNEY GLOMERULAR EPITHELIAL-CELLS

In vivo the glomerula epithelium is encased in a thin shell of parietal epithelium and is bathed in the glomerular filtrate. In the course of previous investigations, we found that when the kidney is sliced with a razor, the urinary pole aspect of the parietal epithelial capsule is often removed, thereby exposing the glomerular epithelium. In the present investigation, such kidney slices were incubated at 37°C with a variety of culture media and conditions. At selected time intervals, the viability and alterations in the fine structure of the glomerular epithelium were studied by combined scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results of this investigation show that fully differentiated, isolated glomeruli can be maintained in a viable state in culture for at least 4 days and that glomerular epithelial cells can be cultured for up to 12 hours without exhibiting major changes in their fine structure. The results of this, as well as other recent investigations indicate that the techniques described can serve as a useful tool for evaluating the responses of these cells to many normal and pathologic stimuli.