Changes in element composition of A6 cells following hypotonic stress

Cellular element concentrations and dry weight contents were determined in A6 epithelia using electron microprobe analysis. This was done to assess the quantitative contributions of Na, K and Cl to the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) and isovolumetric regulation (IVR) after decreasing the basolateral osmolality from 260 to 140 mosmol/kg in a stepwise or gradual way. Two minutes after inducing acute hypotonic stress the cells behaved almost like ideal osmometers, as indicated by a pronounced increase in cell height and decreases in the cellular dry weight and concentrations of all measured elements by about the same degree. Sixty minutes after inducing acute hypotonic stress the dry weight and concentrations of the impermeant elements P, Mg and Ca had returned approximately to control values, indicating normalized cell volume. Na, K and Cl concentrations, however, remained greatly reduced. The cellular amounts of Na, K and Cl diminished during RVD by approximately 31%, 24% and 46%, respectively. The dry weights and element concentrations measured 60 min after inducing acute hypotonic stress were similar to those obtained after a continuous reduction of basolateral osmolality. The cellular loss of Na and K following hypotonic stress exceeded that of Cl by about 40 mmol/kg wet wt., suggesting the exit of an other anion and/or the titration of fixed negative charges. The contribution of Na, K and Cl to total cellular osmolality increased from about 75% under control conditions to about 85% during RVD and IVR. Since only approximately 70% of the loss of cellular osmolytes necessary for the observed RVD and IVR is accounted for by the cellular exit of Na, K and Cl, other osmolytes, possibly amino acids, must leave the cells following hypotonic stress.