Osmoregulation of Na(+)-inositol cotransporter activity and mRNA levels in brain glial cells

During plasma hypertonicity brain volume is regulated acutely by electrolyte uptake and chronically by accumulation of organic solutes such as inositol. Cultured rat C6 glioma cells, an astrocyte-like cell line, show a similar pattern of volume control. Volume regulatory accumulation of inositol requires external inositol, indicating that membrane transport plays a central role in this process. The inositol uptake pathway is Na+ dependent and exhibits Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Chronic hypertonic acclimation results in a twofold increase in the maximum velocity of the transporter without changing the Km. Hypertonic stress also results in a 17-fold increase in transporter mRNA. Elevation of mRNA levels precedes activation of the transporter by 4-6 h, suggesting that increased inositol uptake is mediated by synthesis and membrane insertion of new transport proteins. Reacclimation of hypertonic cells to isotonicity causes a rapid reduction of transporter mRNA levels to control levels within 4 h. In contrast, downregulation of transport activity does not begin until between 10 and 24 h after reexposure to isotonicity.