Cells adapt to hyperosmotic conditions by several mechanisms, including accumulation of
sorbitol via induction of the polyol pathway. Failure to adapt to osmotic stress can result in
apoptotic cell death. In the present study, we assessed the role of aldose reductase, the key
enzyme of the polyol pathway, in cardiac myocyte apoptosis. Hyperosmotic stress, elicited
by exposure of cultured rat cardiac myocytes to the nonpermeant solutes sorbitol and
mannitol, caused identical cell shrinkage and adaptive hexose uptake stimulation. In …