Cytochemical characterization of cultured adult, guinea pig glomerular cells

Methods are described for culture of intact or trypsin-digested adult guinea pig glomeruli. Cell types grown from intact glomeruli were distinctly different from those which dominated cultures of trypsin dissociated glomerular cells as determined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy as well as by fluorescence or enzyme cytochemical reaction with lectins and immunofluorescence cytochemical staining for actin or fibronectin. Cells with long cytoplasmic extensions (glomerular epithelial cells), cultured from intact glomeruli, have strong affinity for concanavalin-A and soybean agglutinin which react with glucose and galactose residues respectively. Rectangular cells (glomerular mesangial cells), cultured as the predominant cell from trypsinized glomeruli, have strong affinity for wheat germ agglutinin which reacts with N-acetyl glucosamine. Both of these cell types stained immunocytochemically for fibronectin and actin although the intracellular patterns were somewhat different. These two types of cells are able to secrete extracellular basement membrane material.