This is a Career Advancement Award to support Dr. Benyajati's attempts to establish primary cell cultures of reptilian renal epithelium. Successful establishment of such a cell culture system would be a major step forward in the study of reptilian kidney physiology. Dr. Benyajati's longer-term goal is to use these cultures to study the regulation of taurine uptake and secretion in snake kidney. If successful, the establishment of snake kidney cell cultures are anticipated to significantly enhance Dr. Benyajati's career.
