When cells are exposed to high levels of salt (sodium chloride) they lose water by osmosis and shrink. The cytoplasm condenses and the movement of cellular components, such as the cytoskeleton and organelles, stops. Cells adapt to high salt by quickly importing salt in order to attract water and regain volume, at the expense of increased salt concentration. Unlike cell volume, the movements of cellular components are slow to recover and, depending on the dose of salt, may not recover fully.
