Abstract

Myo-inositol and glycinebetaine are compatible osmolytes accumulated in the renal medulla and in MDCK cells cultured in hypertonic media. Both osmolytes are taken up by MDCK cells on Na-coupled transporters. The maximal velocity (Vmax) of both cotransporters is increased by culture in hypertonic medium. When hypertonic MDCK cells are shifted to isotonic medium there is a large transient efflux of osmolytes. To determine the polarity of the cotransporters and the transient efflux, we grew MDCK cells on a porous support to assay transport separately at their apical and basolateral surfaces. In hypertonic cells, basolateral uptake of both osmolytes was 1) more than 10-fold apical uptake, 2) greater than 96% Na dependent, 3) 25- (myo-inositol) and 16-fold (glycinebetaine) uptake in isotonic cells, reaching a maximum 24 h after the switch to hypertonic medium. When medium osmolarity was decreased from hypertonic to isotonic, myo-inositol uptake reversed to the isotonic level within 1 day; glycinebetaine uptake decreased more slowly. When medium osmolarity was decreased from hypertonic to isotonic, there was a large transient increase in basolateral efflux of both osmolytes.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.