The influence of electrolytes on the volume of non-metabolizing renal cortical cells.

1. The metabolism of rat renal cortex slices was inhibited by iodoacetate and anoxia, and swelling was prevented by the presence in the medium of 7.2 g polyethylene glycol 6000/100 ml. (referred to as PEG medium).2. Slices were incubated for up to 12 hr in PEG medium, and in PEG media containing 440 m-osmole/kg H(2)O of an electrolyte (LiCl, NaCl, KCl or RbCl), or a non-electrolyte (glucose).3. It was concluded that the slices in all media were at equilibrium with the medium after incubation for 8 hr.4. Slices in the medium containing glucose reached the same equilibrium water content as those in the PEG medium, but slices in all the electrolyte media had significantly lower equilibrium water contents, although these did not differ significantly from each other.5. It is suggested that the results demonstrate a non-specific effect of electrolytes on the swelling of non-metabolizing cells.