Mechanisms And Significance Of Cell Volume Regulation

It is essential for the survival of cells to maintain their volume within certain limits: Profound alterations interfere with the integrity of the cell membrane and the cytoskeletal architecture. Cells use various methods to adjust osmotic pressure gradients which in turn govern water movement across cell membranes. The most rapid and efficient means is ion transport across the cell membrane. However, to avoid excessive alterations of intracellular ion concentration, cells additionally employ organic osmolytes for osmoregulation and modify their metabolism, thus generating or disposing osmotically active organic substances. But a given cell uses only part of the cell volume regulatory mechanisms at their disposal: The large repertoire available allows for a selection of those which have the least untoward impact on cell function.The present book is a collection of reviews on the various aspects of cell volume regulation, written by internationally leading experts, and constitutes a valuable addition to the library of those working in the field.

The ability to regulate cell volume in the face of osmotic challenge is one of the most fundamental of cellular homeostatic mechanisms. Cellular and Molecular Physiology of Cell Volume Regulation is an integrated collection of articles describing key aspects of cell volume control. The book has been organized around concepts and cellular/molecular processes rather than around mechanisms of volume regulation in specific cell types in order to make it more accessible to a multidisciplinary audience of students, instructors, and researchers.

This volume presents a unique compilation of reviews on cell volume regulation in health and disease, with contributions from leading experts in the field. The topics covered include mechanisms and signaling of cell volume regulation and the effect of cell volume on cell function, with special emphasis on ion channels and transporters, kinases and gene expression. Several chapters elaborate on how cell volume regulatory mechanisms participate in the regulation of epithelial transport, urinary concentration, metabolism, migration, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Last but not least, this publication is an excellent guide to the role of cell volume in the pathophysiology of hypercatabolism, diabetes mellitus, brain edema, hemoglobinopathies, tumor growth and metastasis, to name just a few. Providing deeper insights into an exciting area of research which is also of clinical relevance, this publication is a valuable addition to the library of those interested in cell volume regulation.

One of the prerequisites for survival is the ability of cells to maintain their volume. Thus, during the course of evolution cells have "learned" a variety of strategies to achieve volume homeostasis. This volume regulatory machinery involves regulation of both, cellular metabolism and cellular transport and is exploited by hormones and transmitters to regulate cellularfunction. This book to illustrates the complex interplay of cell volume regulatory mechanisms and cellular function in a variety of tissues. However, our knowledge is still far from being conclusive, and the present collection of reviews is thought to foster further experimental efforts to unravel the role of cell volume in the integrated function of cells.

One of the prerequisites for survival is the ability of cells to maintain their volume. Thus, during the course of evolution cells have "learned" a variety of strategies to achieve volume homeostasis. This volume regulatory machinery involves regulation of both, cellular metabolism and cellular transport and is exploited by hormones and transmitters to regulate cellularfunction. This book to illustrates the complex interplay of cell volume regulatory mechanisms and cellular function in a variety of tissues. However, our knowledge is still far from being conclusive, and the present collection of reviews is thought to foster further experimental efforts to unravel the role of cell volume in the integrated function of cells.

One of the prerequisites for survival is the ability of cells to maintain their volume. Thus, during the course of evolution cells have "learned" a variety of strategies to achieve volume homeostasis. This volume regulatory machinery involves regulation of both, cellular metabolism and cellular transport and is exploited by hormones and transmitters to regulate cellularfunction. This book to illustrates the complex interplay of cell volume regulatory mechanisms and cellular function in a variety of tissues. However, our knowledge is still far from being conclusive, and the present collection of reviews is thought to foster further experimental efforts to unravel the role of cell volume in the integrated function of cells.

Hardbound. Cell volume regulation is of fundamental importance to animal cells, since persistent swelling or shrinkage results in cell death. Osmotic perturbation confronts the cells withthe problem of volume regulation, because most animal cell membrane are highly permeable to water.A number of cellular physiological activities are associated with osmotic perturbation to cells. Those include active solute uptake by enterocytes, renal tubular cells or hepatocytes, fluid and electrolyte secretion by glandular cells, cell mitogenesis or proliferation, cell differentiation, hormonal action on hepatocytes, lymphocytes or cardiac myocytes, excitation in neurons, and glutamate receptor activation in brain neurons or glial cells. Also, in kidney medulla and intestinal tissues, not only epithelial cells but also blood and mesenchymal cells may be subject to osmotic stress induced by increased extracellular osmolality.Under pathological conditions, cel