Pressure effects on the ADH-induced initiation of water flow in toad bladder

Earlier studies employed colchicine to demonstrate the need for microtubules in the ADH-induced initiation of increased water permeability in toad bladder. We have used colchicine and hydrostatic pressure together to determine whether formed or growing microtubules are required for initiation of the ADH response in Bufo marinus. When ADH and 8,000 psi were administered simultaneously, the ADH-induced increase in water flow was inhibited while under pressure by 107 +/- 7% (n = 6). Application of 8,000 psi for 10 min before ADH administration resulted in an increased initiation of the ADH osmotic response over the non-pressure-treated control (average acceleration, rate of water flow increase during first 3 min after ADH stimulation, 1.25 +/- 0.27 vs. 0.43 +/- 0.12 mg X cm-2 X min-2, n = 6). In addition, the inhibition of the ADH response brought about by colchicine incubation was overcome with pretreatment of the colchicine-incubated bladders with 8,000 psi for 10 min (average 3-min acceleration, 0.18 +/- 0.04 vs. 1.13 +/- 0.06 mg X cm-2 X min-2, respectively). Repeating the experiments with dibutyryl cAMP gave similar results. We interpret these data as suggesting that growing microtubules are required for initiation. The proposed model is as follows. Pressure removes colchicine inhibition by introducing, through disassembly of formed microtubules, more colchicine-free tubulin subunits. These subunits are then available following decompression to reassemble when the tissue is challenged with hormone.