Osmoregulation of glycerophosphorylcholine content of mammalian renal cells

Renal medullary cells contain high concentrations of "compatible" organic osmolytes such as glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC), betaine, myo-inositol, and sorbitol. The organic osmolytes occur as an osmoregulatory response to the high and variable interstitial NaCl concentration that is part of the urinary concentrating mechanism. Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells in culture were previously shown to accumulate GPC in response to increased osmolality. We demonstrate here that this accumulation occurs in response to elevated extracellular urea concentration as well as to elevated NaCl. GPC does not accumulate unless either choline or GPC is present in the medium. Thus the accumulation results from osmoregulated synthesis of GPC from choline and, possibly, also osmoregulated uptake of extracellular GPC. When the osmolality is decreased from high to normal levels, cell GPC concentration decreases greatly over 24 h, accompanied by efflux of GPC and choline into the medium.