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Hormonally defined serum-free media have been developed for growth and functional studies with kidney epithelial cell cultures. Not only can several established kidney epithelial cell lines (MDCK and LLC-PK1) be grown in a serum-free environment (1,2), but in addition, primary cultures of kidney epithelial cells can also be grown serum free (1-4). Investigations with primary kidney cell cultures are advantageous for several reasons. First of all, kidney cells can be grown in vitro from the animal of choice. Thus, the results of tissue culture studies can be more closely correlated with animal studies. Secondly, new tissue culture systems can be developed that more closely resemble kidney cells in vivo than those obtained with established kidney cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]