GROWTH-CHARACTERISTICS OF CELLS CULTURED FROM 2 MURINE MODELS OF POLYCYSTIC-KIDNEY-DISEASE

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is characterized by multiple renal cys ts that are lined by epithelium and filled with fluid. PKD may result from one of a number of factors, either inherited or environmental. In this study, we have compared two mouse models in which PKD results fr om a genetic cause. In the C57BL/6J-cpk model, the mutated gene is unk nown. In the other model, an SV40 large T antigen transgene causes ren al cysts. We examined cultured cells from the kidneys of these mouse m odels, comparing growth characteristics, Although several features of PKD lead one to expect that the epithelial cells lining the cysts woul d have an increased rate of proliferation in culture, we found that th ey did not. The implications of these findings are discussed.