Membrane structural specialization of the toad urinary bladder revealed by the freeze-fracture technique

1975 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 385-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Wade ◽  
Vincent A. DiScala ◽  
M. J. Karnovsky
1987 ◽  
Vol 252 (2) ◽  
pp. F357-F360
Author(s):  
S. D. Levine ◽  
M. Jacoby

We have reported that Pf/Pd(w) (the ratio of osmotic and diffusional water permeabilities) for the luminal membrane of toad urinary bladder is approximately 17 for tissues stimulated with either vasopressin or 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP). In a recent abstract, Kachadorian and co-workers have shown that tissues stimulated with adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) or forskolin have a lower Pf than would be anticipated from the frequency of aggregates visualized on the flat portion of the luminal membrane using freeze-fracture electron microscopy. We report here measurements of Pf/Pd(w) for the luminal membrane of tissues receiving these agents: Pf/Pd(w) for submaximally stimulated tissues was the same, regardless of whether the stimulant was vasopressin (12.7 +/- 0.3), forskolin (13.7 +/- 0.9), or cAMP (12.0 +/- 1.3). The calculated Pd(w)'s for the series barrier were also identical (6.8 +/- 0.5, 6.5 +/- 0.3, and 8.2 +/- 1.0 X 10(-4) cm/s respectively). Our data, taken together with those of Kachadorian et al. are consistent with a number of possibilities: because our methodology does not permit estimation of Pf for the series barrier, we cannot rule out the possibility of a "post-luminal barrier" that is rate-limiting for Pf, but not for Pd(w) in forskolin- and cAMP-stimulated tissues, Pf and Pd(w) of the luminal surface aggregates could decrease in parallel, so that luminal membrane Pf/Pd(w) remains constant, and there could be a diminished frequency of fused aggregate-rich aggrephores, but not of aggregates that are on the flat portion of the luminal membrane. Only the latter can be unequivocally quantitated using freeze-fracture electron microscopy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1980 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Muller ◽  
W A Kachadorian ◽  
V A DiScala

In freeze-fracture (FF) preparations of ADH-stimulated toad urinary bladder, characteristic intramembrane particle (IMP) aggregates are seen on the protoplasmic (P) face of the luminal membrane of granular cells while complementary parallel grooves are found on the exoplasmic (E) face. These IMP aggregates specifically correlate with ADH-induced changes in water permeability. Tubular cytoplasmic structures whose membranes contain IMP aggregates which look identical to the IMP aggregates in the luminal membrane have also been described in granular cells from unstimulated and ADH-stimulated bladders. The diameter of these cytoplasmic structures (0.11 +/- 0.004 micrometers) corresponds to that of tubular invaginations of the luminal membrane seen in thin sections of ADH-treated bladders (0.13 +/- 0.005 micrometers). Continuity between the membranes of these cytoplasmic structures (which are not granules) and the luminal membrane has been directly observed in favorable cross-fractures. In FF preparations of the luminal membrane, these apparent fusion events are seen as round, ice-filled invaginations (0.13 +/- 0.01 micrometer Diam), of which about half have the characteristic ADH-associated aggregates near the point of membrane fusion. They are less numerous than, but linearly related to, the number of aggregates counted in the same preparations (n = 78, r = 0.71, P less than 0.01). These observations suggest that the IMP aggregates seen in luminal membrane after ADH stimulation are transferred preformed by fusion of cytoplasmic with luminal membrane.


Author(s):  
A.J. Mia ◽  
L.X. Oakford ◽  
T. Yorio

Protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes, when activated, are translocated to particulate membrane fractions for transport to the apical membrane surface in a variety of cell types. Evidence of PKC translocation was demonstrated in human megakaryoblastic leukemic cells, and in cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts, using FTTC immunofluorescent antibody labeling techniques. Recently, we reported immunogold localizations of PKC subtypes I and II in toad urinary bladder epithelia, following 60 min stimulation with Mezerein (MZ), a PKC activator, or antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Localization of isozyme subtypes I and n was carried out in separate grids using specific monoclonal antibodies with subsequent labeling with 20nm protein A-gold probes. Each PKC subtype was found to be distributed singularly and in discrete isolated patches in the cytosol as well as in the apical membrane domains. To determine if the PKC isozymes co-localized within the cell, a double immunogold labeling technique using single grids was utilized.


1975 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
P. J. BENTLEY

SUMMARY The electrical potential difference and short-circuit current (scc, reflecting active transmural sodium transport) across the toad urinary bladder in vitro was unaffected by the presence of hypo-osmotic solutions bathing the mucosal (urinary) surface, providing that the transmural flow of water was small. Vasopressin increased the scc across the toad bladder (the natriferic response), but this stimulation was considerably reduced in the presence of a hypo-osmotic solution on the mucosal side, conditions under which water transfer across the membrane was also increased. This inhibition of the natriferic response did not depend on the direction of the water movement, for if the osmotic gradient was the opposite way to that which normally occurs, the response to vasopressin was still reduced. The natriferic response to cyclic AMP was also inhibited in the presence of an osmotic gradient. Aldosterone increased the scc and Na+ transport across the toad bladder but this response was not changed when an osmotic gradient was present. The physiological implications of these observations and the possible mechanisms involved are discussed.


1979 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loy W. Frazier ◽  
N. Y. Zachariah

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