Method of inhibiting osmotic water flow

摘要

This invention provides a method of inhibiting osmotic water flow across mammalian cell membranes which involves contacting the water channels of the cell membranes with an effective amount of a glucose transport blocker or of digitonin so as to inhibit osmotic water flow across the membranes. Additionally, this invention provides a method of treating a subject afflicted with a condition associated with abnormal osmotic water flow across cell membranes which comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a glucose transport blocker or of digitonin so as to contact the water channels of the subject's cell membranes and inhibit osmotic water flow across the membranes.