Cortical interstitial cell interactions induce sensitivity of hydronephrotic kidney to bradykinin

The mechanism of the increased prostaglandin production and induction of sensitivity to bradykinin by the cortex of the hydronephrotic rabbit kidney was investigated using tissue culture techniques. Cortical interstitial cells from normal, unilaterally hydronephrotic and contralateral kidneys were grown in tissue culture. Cells derived from hydronephrotic kidneys, but not normal or contralateral, increased PGE2 production when incubated with bradykinin. Of the two cell types, fibroblasts and macrophages, grown from hydronephrotic explants, neither increased prostaglandin production when grown alone in tissue culture. Recombining the two cell types restored bradykinin responsiveness. Bradykinin responsiveness could be induced in either normal or contralateral cell cultures when macrophages from the hydronephrotic kidney were added to cultures of cells from normal or contralateral cortex. The data indicate unique characteristics of hydronephrotic macrophages are involved in the induction of bradykinin responsiveness in the cortex of the ureter-ligated kidney.