Abstract: Objective: To isolate and identify the glomerular mesangial cells in vitro. Methods: Kidneys were isolated from the normal kidney tissues which were separated from kidney tumor patients and fetal kidneys after induction of labor with water bag, then glomerular mesangial cells were separated by using three-layer micropore fillers and they were subsequently characterized by a morphology method and an immunohistochemical method using flourescein isothiocyanate staining as a label for keratin and desmin. MTT and flow cytometry technology were used to determine the growth of mesangial cells. Results: Glomerular mesangial cells were characterized by their morphology and immunohistochemical character, and those cultured from fetal kidneys can be subcultured after 8 to 10 days and 7 to 10 passages in culture while from adult kidneys they can only be sub-cultured after 15 to 16 days and the fourth passage cells presented a poor growth mode. Conclusion: The isolated and cultured cells in vitro are glomerular mesangial cells and they are easier to retain in young kidneys than in adult kidneys.

Key words: Glomerular mesangial cell, Cell primary culture, Adult kidney, Fetal kidney