Alternatively, under hypotonic conditions - when concentrations of solutes are low - water enters the cell in large amounts, causing it to swell and either burst or undergo apoptosis.
[4] Although single-celled organisms are more vulnerable to osmotic shock, since they are directly exposed to their environment, cells in large animals such as mammals still suffer these stresses under some conditions.
[5] Current research also suggests that osmotic stress in cells and tissues may significantly contribute to many human diseases.
Calcium plays a large role in the recovery and tolerance for both hyper and hypo-osmotic stress situations.
More specifically, it works by sending signals to the nucleus that activate genes responsible for glycerol production and uptake.