Cell Volume Regulation in Liver

Abstract

The maintenance of liver cell volume in isotonic extracellular fluid requires the continuous supply of energy: sodium is extruded in exchange for potassium by the sodium/potassium ATPase, conductive potassium efflux creates a cell-negative membrane potential, which expelles chloride through conductive pathways. Thus, the various organic substances accumulated within the cell are osmotically counterbalanced in large part by the large difference of chloride concentration across the cell membrane. Impairment of energy supply leads to dissipation of ion gradients, depolarization and cell swelling. However, even in the presence of ouabain the liver cell can extrude ions by furosemide-sensitive transport in intracellular vesicles and subsequent exocytosis. In isotonic extracellular fluid cell swelling may follow an increase in extracellular potassium concentration, which impairs potassium efflux and depolarizes the cell membrane leading to chloride accumulation. Replacement of extracellular chloride with impermeable anions leads to cell shrinkage. During excessive sodium-coupled entry of amino acids and subsequent stimulation of sodium/potassium-ATPase by increase in intracellular sodium activity, an increase in cell volume is blunted by activation of potassium channels, which maintain cell membrane potential and allow for loss of cellular potassium. Cell swelling induced by exposure of liver cells to hypotonic extracellular fluid is followed by regulatory volume decrease (RVD), cell shrinkage induced by reexposure to isotonic perfusate is followed by regulatory volume increase (RVI). Available evidence suggests that RVD is accomplished by activation of potassium channels, hyperpolarization and subsequent extrusion of chloride along with potassium, and that RVI depends on the activation of sodium hydrogen ion exchange with subsequent activation of sodium/potassium-ATPase leading to the respective accumulation of potassium and bicarbonate. In addition, exposure of liver to anisotonic perfusates alters glycogen degradation, glycolysis and probably urea formation, which are enhanced by exposure to hypertonic perfusates and depressed by hypotonic perfusates.