the neurons and supportive cells will initially adapt as extracellular concentrations of sodium and electrolytes are diluted by the retention of free water, but the serum osmolality will continue to fall less than the intracellular environment. osmosis will continue to move fluid into the cerebral cell in an ineffective effort to reach homeostasis. as the fluid enters cells, they swell, become dysfunctional, and eventually lyse when the volume is too great for the cell walls to contain, resulting in cellular death.