Cross-reactivity of an antiserum to the alpha-subunit of the Na+, K+-ATPase of toad (Bufo marinus) kidney with basal and apical membranes of transporting epithelia of the rat.

An antibody to the 96 kD alpha-subunit of the Na+, K+-ATPase from Bufo marinus has been used in immunostaining rat kidney and salivary glands. Intense staining was observed on basolateral membranes of distal tubules of the kidney and striated ducts of the three major salivary glands. Less intense staining was seen on the basolateral membranes of parotid acinar cells, but no staining was seen on the acinar cells of submandibular or sublingual glands.

Detection of type 1 insulinlike growth factor (IGF) receptors in Wilms' tumors.

Insulinlike growth factors (IGFs) are peptide hormones that regulate proliferation and differentiation of several types of normal and neoplastic cells. Recent studies of Wilms' tumor, a childhood kidney neoplasm, have detected increased expression of IGF-2 mRNA and protein. The present report describes detection of Type 1 IGF receptors in specimens of Wilms' tumor and adjacent nonneoplastic kidney tissue.

Growth characteristics of human Wilms' tumor in nude mice.

Ten Wilms' tumors (WT) were heterotransplated into athymic (nude) mice. Eight of the tumors (80%) grew and were serially passaged as many as 20 times. The histology of the primary heterotransplants resembled that of the surgically excised tumors (seven classical and one anaplastic).

The in vitro growth, heterotransplantation, and immunohistochemical characterization of the blastemal component of Wilms' tumor.

Wilms' tumor has been proposed to originate from a developmental abnormality of the metanephric blastema. This undifferentiated component of Wilms' tumors has previously eluded efforts for in vitro growth. Blastema from a "classical" Wilms' tumor was transplanted into nude mice and passaged through 12 generations of heterotransplantation.