title: Relationship between cell volume and cation content in thick ascending limb of rat kidney.
abstract: We examined the relationship between the cell volume and cation concentration ([Nai] and [Ki]) of isolated segments of rat medullary thick ascending limb (MAL) after incubation at 30 degrees C in various isotonic solutions. When the tubules were incubated in a normal NaCl solution containing 5 mmol/l K+, addition of 1 mmol/l of ouabain increased [Nai] and decreased [Ki] but did not change the total ([Nai] + [Ki]) concentration (about 90 mEq/l) or tubular volume. After incubation in various K+-free solutions, the tubules were almost fully K+-depleted; their volume per unit of length was similar in the three solutions, although the choline Cl-treated tubules had a very low sodium content compared to the NaCl- and Na2SO4-treated tubules (8 vs. 97 and 95 mEq/l respectively). Ouabain altered neither volume nor [Nai] of tubules incubated in choline Cl or Na2SO4 solution. Transfer of tubules from K+-free Na2SO4 or K+-free choline Cl solution into K+-free NaCl solution resulted in an increase in [Nai] (by 29 and 97 mEq/l respectively) without much increase in tubular volume. A marked swelling of the tubules was only observed when the K+-free NaCl solution contained also ouabain. Under this condition, [Nai] was comparable to the Na+ concentration of the incubation medium. After washing and incubation in a normal NaCl solution containing K+, the swollen tubules recovered their initial volume and restored Na+ and K+ concentration gradients across the cell membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire, Collège de France, UA 219 du CNRS, Paris, France.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rajerison
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faure
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002712:Chlorides / Q000502:physiology; D005665:Furosemide / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000166:cytology*; D007686:Kidney Tubules, Distal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D001464:Barium; D010042:Ouabain; D005665:Furosemide; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium