Protection of cultured renal tubular epithelial cells from anoxic cell swelling and cell death.

Abstract

To study the relationship between cell swelling and cell death due to ischemia, an in vitro model using primary cultures of [rat] renal tubular epithelial cells was developed. With this model, 2 components of ischemia, anoxia along with substrate deprivation, were studied. After 2 h of anoxia in the absence of substrate, the cultured cells swelled and blebbed. Cells similarly treated in the presence of 8% polyethylene glycol, an oncotic agent, did not swell and bleb and when cells were counted 18 h later, similar numbers of cells were seen as in the untreated cultures. Tubule cells exposed to anoxia without 8% polyethylene glycol had 50% fewer cells 18 h later. If cell swelling is prevented during 2 h of anoxia, cell viability is improved.