Effect of extracellular glucose and K+ on intracellular osmolytes and volume in a human kidney cell line.

The goal of this study was to assess the effect of extracellular glucose and K+ ((K)o) on the intracellular osmolyte content and cell volume maintenance and regulation in a human embryonic kidney cell line (tsA201a). Cell volume maintenance was studied by isotonic (313 +/- 5 mOsm) replacement of culture media by a glucose-free Ringer solution containing (in mM) 0, 3, 6, or 10 K+. Cell volume regulation was studied by exposing cells to hypotonic (250 +/- 5 mOsm) glucose-free Ringer solution containing the various (K)o.