Cholinergic and adrenergic effects on diffusional water flux in the toadfish, Opsanus beta

Intraperitoneal injections of adrenaline resulted in increased tritiated water efflux rate in the toadfish, Opsanus beta. Adrenaline-stimulated water flux was inhibited by the beta-adrenergic blocker, propranolol, but not by the alpha-adrenergic blocker, phentolamine. Propranolol on its own had no effect but phentolamine significantly stimulated water flux; this action was attributed to a beta-mimetic effect of the drug. The cholinergic neurotransmitter acetylcholine, had no effect while the parasympathico-mimetic carbachol, significantly stimulated water flux. Arguments were advanced to explain the similarity in the effects of the adrenergic and cholinergic drugs although they are both known to produce opposing vascular haemodynamic effects in fish gills. Adrenaline substantially stimulated tritiated water flux in the toadfish, Opsanus beta. The adrenaline-stimulated water flux exhibited a linear dose-response curve up to an adrenaline dosage of 750 micrograms kg-1; wt. At higher doses there was apparently a desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor sites. The adrenaline effect was inhibited by the beta-blocker propranolol, but not by the alpha-blocker, phentolamine. This suggests that the adrenaline-stimulated water flux was due predominantly to beta-receptor site stimulation. Stimulation of water flux by phentolamine on its own could be due to the stimulation of endogenous catecholamine release by the drug. We have proposed that the beta-stimulated water efflux could be due to an increase in surface area of the branchial epithelium, a decrease in water to blood diffusion distance, a direct metabolic effect or any combination of these effects by adrenaline. Carbachol caused an increase in tritiated water efflux. The carbachol-stimulated water flux was inhibited by atropine thus suggesting that the drug acts via muscarinic receptor sites. We have suggested that the action of the drug on hydraulic water conductivity, water to blood diffusion distance, hydrostatic pressure or a direct effect on membrane diffusion coefficient.