Cell volume regulation of rabbit cortical collecting tubule in anisotonic media

Volume regulation of nonperfused rabbit cortical collecting tubules in anisotonic bathing media was examined in vitro. When media osmolality is abruptly increased by 150 mosmol/kgH2O with the addition of NaCl, tubules shrink by 20% but do not volume regulate. However, volume regulatory increase (VRI) is observed when 1 mM butyrate is present in the bathing media or when tubules are pretreated with hypotonic media. When media osmolality is increased, butyrate-treated tubules shrink to 74% of their isotonic control volume. As evidence of volume regulation, butyrate-treated tubules swell while still bathed in hypertonic media, recovering in 30 min 78% of the volume lost due to osmotic shrinkage. The butyrate effect requires external Na+ and is inhibited by amiloride. When media osmolality is lowered to 150 mosmol/kgH2O, nonbutyrate tubules swell before showing typical volume regulatory decrease. When these tubules are returned to isotonic media, they immediately shrink to 78% of control volume before showing evidence of VRI. These results suggest that, under the appropriate conditions, cortical collecting tubules are capable of VRI.