In this study, we developed and well characterized a newly established ADPKD model and demonstrated that rapamycin inhibits cystic progression in the ADPKD kidney by down‐regulating the cell‐cycle‐associated CDK1 and cyclins (cyclin A, cyclin B, cyclin D1 and cyclin E), thereby arresting aberrant proliferation of the renal epithelia. Here, CDK1 is linked to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.