Cytosolic calcium and the action of vasopressin in toad urinary bladder

The effects of experimental procedures believed to increase cytosolic calcium on basal and vasopressin-stimulated osmotic water flow and transepithelial sodium transport were examined in the toad urinary bladder. Exposure of isolated toad bladders to quinidine, calcium ionophores (A23187, X537A), or low-sodium or potassium-free serosal solutions resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the hydrosmotic response to vasopressin or exogenous adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). The degree of inhibition of cAMP-induced water flow induced by low-sodium or potassium-free serosal bathing media varied, and in a similar manner, with the serosal calcium concentration. The effects of quinidine sulfate (2 X 10-4 M), X537A (2 X 10(-5) M), and low serosal sodium (20 mM), but not that of A23187 (10(-5) M), were readily reversible. Exposure to quinidine (4 X 10(-4) M), A23187 (10(-5) M), X537A (5 X 10(-6) M), or low serosal sodium (2 mM) also inhibited the basal short-circuit current (SCC). Vasopressin, 4-20 mU/ml, completely overcame the inhibition of the SCC induced by quinidine, A23187, or low serosal sodium, but a submaximal dose of hormone (4 mU/ml) failed to fully reverse the inhibitory effect of X537A, 5 X 10(-6) M. These results are consistent with the view that 1) a Na-Ca exchange process operates across the basolateral surface of the granular epithelial cells of the toad urinary bladder in vivo, and 2) the level of free calcium in the granular cell cytosol plays a modulatory role in the control of apical membrane water and sodium permeability by vasopressin, and in the regulation of the basal rate of transepithelial sodium transport.