Role of cytoskeleton in volume regulation of rabbit proximal tubule in dilute medium.

When proximal tubules are immersed in hypotonic medium, they quickly swell to a peak volume. In a second, slower phase, termed volume regulatory decrease (VRD), they shrink as K, anion, and water leave the cells. We investigated the role of the cytoskeleton during this biphasic hypotonic volume regulatory response. Isolated, collapsed rabbit proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) were crimped tightly between two pipettes, and their volume was assessed optically. PCT volume increased to a peak 70-80% above baseline on sudden immersion in dilute medium (150 mosmol/kgH2O). After completing VRD, control tubules had regulated their volume 73 +/- 2% back toward baseline. Tubules exposed to the microtubule inhibitor vincristine (5 microM) regulated 75 +/- 2%. Tubules exposed to the microfilament inhibitor cytochalasin B (50 microM) regulated less (57 +/- 5%), and tubules exposed to both inhibitors regulated only 39 +/- 3% (P less than 0.01 vs. control). Hypotonic VRD was unimpaired in PCT loaded with NaCl by prior exposure to ouabain but was significantly reduced by cytochalasin B. We conclude that VRD is not cation specific and that intact microtubules and microfilaments play a synergistic role in the VRD of rabbit PCT in hyposmotic medium.