Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Cellular osmoregulation in renal medulla.

F X Beck1, A Dörge, K Thurau

  • 1Department of Physiology, University of Munich, FRG.

Renal Physiology and Biochemistry
|May 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary

Renal medulla cells use organic osmolytes like sorbitol to maintain stable intracellular electrolyte levels. These osmolytes are metabolically neutral and protect proteins from urea damage during antidiuresis.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Immunohistochemical analysis on potential new molecular targets for esophageal cancer.

Diseases of the esophagus : official journal of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus·2013
Same author

[Patient information discussion].

Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde·2011
Same author

Ammonium affects tight junctions and the cytoskeleton in MDCK cells.

Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology·2005
Same author

Recovery of cell volume and electrolytes of A6 cells after re-establishing isotonicity following hypotonic stress.

Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology·2003
Same author

Changes in element composition of A6 cells following hypotonic stress.

Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology·2001
Same author

Heat shock proteins and the cellular response to osmotic stress.

Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology·2000

Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Renal physiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Renal medulla cells face extreme osmotic challenges due to varying external electrolyte concentrations.
  • Maintaining stable intracellular electrolyte concentrations is crucial for optimal enzyme function and cell metabolism.
  • High urea concentrations during antidiuresis can negatively impact cell protein structure and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of organic osmolytes in renal medullary cell adaptation to osmotic stress.
  • To understand how these osmolytes stabilize intracellular electrolyte concentrations.
  • To explore the protective effects of specific osmolytes against urea-induced protein damage.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of intracellular osmolyte content (sorbitol, inositol, trimethylamines) in renal medullary cells.
  • Measurement of intracellular electrolyte concentrations under varying tonicity.
  • Assessment of the impact of organic osmolytes on protein structure and function in the presence of urea.

Main Results:

  • Renal medullary cells primarily adapt to osmotic changes by altering intracellular concentrations of organic osmolytes.
  • Organic osmolytes stabilize intracellular monovalent electrolyte levels, ensuring optimal cellular function.
  • Trimethylamine compounds were found to counteract the detrimental effects of high urea concentrations on cell proteins.

Conclusions:

  • Organic osmolytes are key to renal medullary cell survival and function under osmotic stress.
  • These osmolytes provide metabolic neutrality and protect cellular components from damage.
  • The findings highlight the importance of organic osmolytes in renal physiology and cellular protection mechanisms.

Related Experiment Videos