Effect of hypotonic medium on K and Na content of proximal renal tubules.

The intracellular content of K and Na was measured in isolated nonperfused proximal straight renal tubules (PST) in order to determine the mode of cell volume regulation in hypotonic bathing media. Immersion in hypotonic medium caused PST to lose K and Na (with anions) in a magnitude sufficient to account for the regulation of cell volume. Hypothermia (10 degrees C) blocked cell volume regulation in hypotonic medium by promoting net accumulation of Na, although K loss was equivalent to that observed at 37 degrees C. Ouabain (10(-5) M) caused rapid loss of cell K and gain of Na in an isotonic bath, but the glycoside did not inhibit the subsequent adjustment of cell volume in hypotonic medium. In hypotonic medium ouabain-treated tubules lost Na, but not K, to account for hypotonic volume adjustment of PST in ouabain. We conclude that proximal straight tubules extrude electrolytes (K, Na, and anions) in the adjustment of cell volume in hypotonic media; in normal tubules K and Na are lost whereas Na moves primarily in ouabain-treated tubules. The adjustment of size through the extrusion of intracellular solutes in dilutional states appears to be a general property of mammalian cells.