Aldose reductase (AR) is an enzyme responsible for converting glucose into sorbitol and galactose into galactitol. In the renal inner medulla, where sorbitol production plays a role in cellular osmoregulation, AR gene expression has been shown to be osmotically regulated. The present study examined the effects of the accumulation of the AR end product, galactitol, induced by galactose feeding, on AR gene expression and on the balance of other cellular osmolytes, including inositol, in the renal medulla. To differentiate between the effects of excess substrate, product, and intervening osmotic factors, rats were fed either control, galactose, galactose and sorbinil (an AR inhibitor), or control plus sorbinil diets. Renal papillae were assayed for AR mRNA, sodium, urea, galactose, galactitol, sorbitol, inositol, and other organic osmolytes. Galactose feeding resulted in a great accumulation of galactitol and reduction in AR mRNA levels in renal papillae. Associated with these changes was a significant depletion of renal papillary sorbitol, inositol, and glycerolphosphocholine. These effects were largely attenuated by sorbinil. The present findings suggest that renal cellular accumulation of the enzyme's polyol product causes downregulation of AR gene expression. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the inositol depletion associated with sorbitol or galactitol accumulation in various cell types during hyperglycemia may be a function of cellular osmoregulation.