An in vitro model of nephrocalcinosis using rabbit inner medullary collecting tubular cell culture

In order to investigate the pathogenesis of medullary nephrocalcinosis, rabbit inner medullary collecting duct cells were grown in media containing different Ca++, PTH and pH levels. It was found that high Ca++ (7.8mM) only reduced growth slightly and that crystalline deposits were found under the cells. This suggests that high Ca++ is not severely toxic to the cells but can lead to deposition of calcium beneath the basement membrane. PTH did not effect cell growth even in the presence of high Ca++ implying that it has an indirect effect on tubular cells in medullary nephrocalcinosis associated with hyperparathyroidism. In renal tubular acidosis these cells are subjected to a persistently high urinary pH and low interstitial pH. Raising the pH reduced the cell growth in normal Ca++ medium whereas lowering the pH increased cell growth in vitro. Our results show that nephrocalcinosis is not due to the direct effect of raised pericellular Ca++ or PTH alone and that persistently alkaline tubular fluid may play a role.