INSULIN AND GLUCOSE IMPACT ON FUNCTIONAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL-DIFFERENTIATION OF RABBIT PROXIMAL TUBULE CELLS IN PRIMARY CULTURE

Glucose and insulin impact on cellular phenotype expression was assess ed on rabbit proximal tubule cells in primary culture. Glycolysis, glu coneogenesis pathways and lysosomal, mitochondrial, detoxication syste m, apical and basolateral membrane marker enzyme activities were asses sed. Both insulin and glucose deprivation partially prevented the rise in glycolysis and delayed the drop of gluconeogenesis pathways. Scann ing electron microscopy analysis of the apical surface of the monolaye r revealed a much higher density of microvilli in glucose-free culture s compared to cultures developed with glucose. In conclusion, culture medium deprivation in both glucose and insulin allowed closer function al, biochemical and morphological properties to those which exist in t he in vivo situation for proximal tubule cells.