Methods for the establishment and growth of renal cell types in culture are reviewed, with emphasis on current trends. General techniques available for the isolation and culture of glomerular cells have progressed from explant to enzyme dissociation and cloning techniques. The growth characteristics and properties of cultured glomerular endothelial, epithelial, mesangial, and bone-marrow-derived cells are discussed. Studies are described in which cultures of contractile mesangial cells have led to an elucidation of their role both in normally functioning glomeruli and in disease states. Renal tubule culture techniques also have progressed from mixed tissue explants and cell isolates to fractionation of enriched tubule populations and growth of specific, individually microdissected proximal convoluted, proximal straight, thick ascending limb of Henle's loop, and collecting tubules. The differentiated tubule epithelial-specific properties of such primary cultures are discussed in relation to those of permanently growing cell lines such as MDCK and LLC-PK1. Renal tubule cultures will be invaluable for the study of the role of hormones and extracellular matrix in epithelial growth and polarity of normal structure and function. In addition, in vitro models of cultured renal tubules have been established to study the effects of age, nephrotoxins, and anoxic injury.