Osmoregulation of renal papillary cells

Element concentrations were determined in various extra- and intracellular compartments of the rat renal papilla in antidiuresis and after furosemide-induced diuresis using electron microprobe analysis to elucidate further how the cells adapt osmotically to different osmolalities. In antidiuresis and diuresis the sum of intracellular cations (sodium and potassium), accompanying anions and urea was insufficient in both cases to provide cell osmolalities similar to those in extracellular compartments. This finding provides further evidence that the papillary cells achieve osmoadaptation to widely differing extracellular electrolyte concentrations mainly by varying the cellular concentrations of osmotically-active substances other than urea and electrolytes.