Live-Cell Imaging: Cell Motility

Normal Rabbit Kidney Epithelial Cells (RK13 Line)

The RK13 cell line was initiated from the kidney of a 5-week-old rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The cells exhibit epithelial characteristics and are positive for keratin by immunoperoxidase staining. In the mid-1990s, it was discovered that the RK13 cell line, as well as a wide array of other cell lines originating from rabbits, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, bison, and cats, had been contaminated with the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). RK13 cells are commonly used to isolate viruses and as transfection hosts. The cells have proven susceptible to infection with the B virus, herpes simplex, pseudorabies virus, vaccinia, rabbitpox, myxoma, simian adenoviruses, and rubellavirus.

RK-13 Live Cell Video No. 1 - The actin filaments that comprise the prominent lamellipodia along the edges of RK13 cells are organized into large branching nets. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL (RealPlayer), or T1/Cable/DSL (Windows Media), or download this video clip in MPEG format (17.0 hour time-lapse sequence; 51 seconds - 21.6 MB).

RK-13 Live Cell Video No. 2 - In flattened cells settled on the substratum of a culture chamber, saltatory movement is usually directed either toward or away from the cell center, often along the intracellular microtubule network. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL (RealPlayer), or T1/Cable/DSL (Windows Media), or download this video clip in MPEG format (10.3 hour time-lapse sequence; 31 seconds - 13.3 MB).

RK-13 Live Cell Video No. 3 - Repeated reversals occur in cytoplasmic flow at different times at disparate regions of RK13 cells, a phenomenon referred to as shuttle streaming. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL (RealPlayer), or T1/Cable/DSL (Windows Media), or download this video clip in MPEG format (12.0 hour time-lapse sequence; 36 seconds - 15.4 MB).