Main description:

Advances in Compararative and Environmental Physiology helps biologists, physiologists, and biochemists keep track of the extensive literature in the field. Providing comprehensive, integrated reviews and sound, critical, and provocative summaries, this series is a must for all active researchers in environmental and comparative physiology. Cellular volume and osmolality in animals is a well studied topic and this specific volume in the series provides the reader with a thorough grounding in this area of physiology. Consisting of two parts, the text discusses osmolality and volume control in terms of both inorganic and organic ions which as a result gives an excellent overview to those working and interested in this field.

Contents:

I Inorganic Ions in Osmolality and Volume Control.- Epithelia.- 1 Volume Regulation in Epithelia.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Organization of Epithelia and the Properties of the Plasma Membranes.- 3 Contributions to Steady State Volume of Non-Diffusible Cell Osmoles.- 4 Changes in Cell Diffusible Solutes and Volume Regulation in Epithelia Under Isosmotic Conditions.- 5 Changes in Water Permeability and the Effects of Anisosmotic Media.- 6 Some Unanswered Questions.- References.- 2 Inorganic Ions and Volume Regulation in Kidney Tubules Under Anisosmotic Conditions.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Non-Polarized (Unperfused) Renal Tubules.- 3 Polarized (Perfused) Renal Tubules.- 4 Role of Anisotonic Volume Regulation in the Kidney; Pathophysiology and Perspective.- References.- Brain.- 3 Regulation of Brain Volume Under Isosmotic and Anisosmotic Conditions.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Factors Governing Fluid Distribution Within the Central Nervous System.- 3 Model of Brain Volume Regulation Under Normal, Isosmotic Conditions.- 4 Adaptation to Hyperosmolality.- 5 Adaptation to Hyposmolality.- 6 Role of Hormones in Brain Volume Regulation.- References.- 4 Swelling and Volume Control in Brain Astroglial Cells.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Effectors of Astrocytic Swelling.- 3 Resolution of Astroglial Swelling.- 4 Consequences of Astrocytic Swelling.- 5 Relationship of Swelling-Induced Transport Changes in Astrocytes to Stretch-Activated Channels (SACs).- 6 Reversibility of Swelling-Induced Effects and Viability of Cells After Swelling.- 7 Shrinkage of Astrocytes in Hyperosmotic Media.- 8 Pathological Aspects of Astroglial Swelling.- 9 Conclusions.- References.- Cultured Cells.- 5 Channels, Antiports, and the Regulation of Cell Volume in Lymphoid Cells.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD) in Osmotically Swollen Lymphocytes.- 3 Regulatory Volume Increase (RVI) in Osmotically Shrunken Lymphocytes.- 4 Concluding Remarks.- References.- 6 Mechanisms of Activation of Regulatory Volume Responses After Cell Swelling.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD).- 3 Volume-Activated Cl- and K+ Conductance Pathways.- 4 Activation Mechanisms. Second Messengers Involved in Volume Responses.- 5 Stretch-Activated (SA) Channels and Their Function in Volume Regulation.- 6 Conclusions.- References.- II Organic Compounds in Osmolality and Volume Control.- 7 The Role of Organic Osmolytes in the Regulation of Mammalian Cell Volume.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Brain Cells.- 3 Kidney.- 4 Other Cells.- 5 Summary and Conclusions.- References.- 8 The Interactions of Proteins with Salts, Amino Acids, and Sugars at High Concentration.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Effects of Co-Solvents.- 3 Preferential Interactions.- 4 Conclusions.- References.