Dual action of aldosterone on toad bladder: Na+ permeability and Na+ pump modulation

The effects of aldosterone on the functional characteristics of the Na+ entry step across the apical membrane and on the Na+ exit step across the basolateral membrane of the urinary bladder of toads were examined using amiloride and ouabain as probes of the respective surfaces of the cell. Aldosterone stimulated Na+ transport with a concurrent increase in the transepithelial electrical conductance as did two other agents, vasopressin (ADH) and p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate (PCMPS), primarily active on the apical membrane. Unlike the effects of ADH and PCMPS, however, the effect of aldosterone on Na+ conductance was blocked by actinomycin D and was associated with a decreased sensitivity of the apical Na+ channel to amiloride. In addition, aldosterone increased the sensitivity of the Na+ pump on the basolateral side to ouabain, an effect that was dependent on the metabolic state of the urinary bladder. These results support the inference of coordinate effects on Na+ permeability of the apical membrane and the Na+ pump of the basolateral membrane. Both effects of aldosterone appear to be dependent on the metabolic state of the transporting epithelium.