Regulation of sorbitol efflux in different renal medullary cells: similarities and diversities

It is well accepted that organic osmolytes, including sorbitol, play a major role in the volume regulation of renal medullary cells. The signal leading to an activation of release channels during RVD is, however, poorly understood. Hypotonicity induced sorbitol efflux was investigated in freshly isolated rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells and in rabbit medullary thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TALH) cells biochemically or using labeled sorbitol. The time course of release was compared with changes in cell volume, measured by confocal microscopy, and alterations in cell calcium (Ca(i)) determined by Fura 2 technology. In IMCD cells sorbitol release, volume decrease and Ca(i) transients show a close temporal correlation. In addition increases in Ca(i) without volume changes stimulate sorbitol efflux. In TALH cells sorbitol release starts after a significant lag time and reaches a maximum when cell volume is already partially restored. The same discrepancy is observed with regard to changes in Ca(i) and sorbitol efflux. These studies suggest that in IMCD cells changes in Ca(i) are the main regulator for the sorbitol permeability of the plasma membrane. The sorbitol channel present in TALH cells seems to operate predominantly independently of Ca(i). Despite this diversity in signal transduction the sorbitol channels in both renal cell types appear, however, not to be stretch-activated.