Regulatory volume decrease in perfused proximal nephron: evidence for a dumping of cell K+.

We utilized the microscopic and morphometric procedures described in the preceding paper to examine the role of a swelling-activated dumping of K-salt in the reversal of hyposmotic cell swelling in the perfused proximal nephron. The rate of the regulatory volume decrease that follows cell swelling in dilute solutions was reduced by two maneuvers that attenuate the K+ chemical potential difference across the basolateral membrane; inhibiting the Na+-K+ pump (e.g., with ouabain) and raising the peritubular K+ concentration. The rate of the regulatory volume decrease was also inhibited by peritubular quinine, which blocks K channels and volume regulation for a number of mammalian cells. Additionally, exposure to hyposmotic solutions resulted in a sustained and quinine-sensitive increase in the apparent permeability of the basolateral membrane to K+ salt, which was monitored qualitatively as the rate of cell volume change that was induced by a perturbation in the peritubular K+ concentration. The simplest interpretation of these results is that the reversal of hyposmotic cell swelling in the proximal nephron is referable at least in part to a swelling-activated loss of K-salt and water from the cells.