Electrophysiological studies on primary cultures of proximal tubule cells

Primary confluent monolayers were grown from proximal tubule fragments of rabbit kidneys. The fragments were obtained by gradient centrifugation and seeded on an ad hoc dish whose bottom was a permeable and transparent collagen membrane. The culture medium was a mixture of 50% Ham's F-12 and 50% Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with insulin, transferrin, ethanolamine, sodium selenite, and amino acids. The monolayers were studied at 6-14 days after seeding. Transmission electron microscopy revealed cuboidal cells 8.5-10.5 microns high, with a 1.5 to 2.5-microns apical brush border, abundant mitochondria, vacuoles, lysosomes, and irregular basal interdigitating processes. Cyclic AMP synthesis was stimulated by parathyroid hormone and was insensitive to vasopressin and isoproterenol. Electrophysiological studies performed with the same physiological salt solution on both sides revealed a transepithelial voltage of -2.6 +/- 0.6 mV (n = 10) and a basolateral membrane voltage of -51.0 +/- 4.5 mV (n = 13), both referred to the basal solution. The transepithelial electrical resistance was 7 +/- 2 omega X cm2. The apical membrane depolarized on addition of glucose to the apical side and hyperpolarized on removal of glucose. Changes in apical membrane voltage on addition of varying glucose concentrations (at [Na] = 135 mM, 37 degrees C) demonstrate the presence of a glucose transport system with an apparent Km of 3.54 +/- 0.54 and a Vmax of 7.2 +/- 0.4 mV. Thus this preparation exhibits morphological and electrophysiological characteristics of proximal tubule cells; these studies demonstrate the feasibility of the use of intracellular microelectrode techniques to study the transport properties of cultured epithelia.