Regulatory volume decrease in frog retinal pigment epithelium.

To measure changes in cell water during cell volume regulation, retinal pigment epithelial cells were loaded with tetramethylammonium (TMA). Regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in TMA-loaded retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells was measured using double-barreled K(+)-specific microelectrodes. Hyposmotic removal of 12.5 mM NaCl from the apical bath caused bullfrog RPE cells to rapidly swell by approximately 10% and to recover to control level within 10-15 min. Hyposmotic RVD was inhibited by 5 mM basal but not apical BaCl2. Raising K+ in the basal bath from 2 to 12 mM also inhibited RVD. Hyposmotic swelling was accompanied by an increase in the ratio of apical to basolateral membrane resistance (Ra/Rb). The swelling-induced increase in Ra/Rb was inhibited by 5 mM BaCl2. Together, the above findings suggest that hyposmotic swelling enhances basolateral K+ conductance such that K+ and presumably anion efflux mediate net solute and water loss during RVD. RPE cells can also regulate their volume when swollen in isosmotic Ringer solution under certain conditions. When urea or apical HCO3- was used to induce cell swelling, RPE cells underwent an RVD. In contrast, isosmotic elevation of apical K+ from 2 to 5 mM resulted in an increase in RPE cell volume with no subsequent RVD. Thus the method used to swell RPE cells is an important determinant of RVD. Because changes in RPE cell volume in vivo may alter the volume and composition of the extracellular (subretinal) space surrounding the photoreceptors, isosmotic volume regulation may play an important physiological role in maintaining the integrity and health of the neural retina under normal and pathophysiological conditions.