Thromboxane and stable prostaglandin endoperoxide analogs stimulate water permeability in the toad urinary bladder

The effects of thromboxane B(2) and the stable prostaglandin endoperoxide analogs (15Z)-hydroxy - 9alpha - 11alpha - (epoxymethano)prosta - 5Z,13E - dienoic acid (U44069) and (15Z)-hydroxy -11alpha,9alpha-(epoxymethano) prosta-5Z,13E-dienoic acid (U46619) were tested on water flow across the toad urinary bladder. In the presence of indomethacin or meclofenamic acid, inhibitors of prostaglandin and thromboxane A(2) synthesis, thromboxane B(2) stimulated water flow in a dose-dependent manner. U44069 (1 muM) stimulated water flow from 3.6+/-0.8 to 12.4+/-1.2 mg/min per 10 cm(2) hemibladder surface area, while U46619 (1 muM) stimulated water flow from 2.8+/-1.0 to 21.8+/-2.0 mg/min per 10 cm(2). The prostaglandin endoperoxide/thromboxane A(2) antagonist trans- 13-azaprostanoic acid, an inhibitor of vasopressin-stimulated water flow, inhibited thromboxane B(2)- and U46619-stimulated water flow in a dose-dependent manner. The inactive cis-13-azaprostanoic acid did not inhibit vasopressin-stimulated water flow in untreated hemibladders and had no effect on U46619-stimulated water flow in indomethacin or meclofenamic acid pretreated hemibladders. U46619 (1 muM) enhanced vasopressin-stimulated water flow in indomethacin pretreated hemibladders, producing a significant parallel shift (P < 0.001) in the dose-response relationship to submaximal concentrations of vasopressin (0.1-0.6 mU/ml), while not affecting water flow stimulated by supramaximal concentrations of vasopressin (10 mU/ml). trans-13-Azaprostanoic acid abolished the potentiating effects of U46619 on vasopressin-stimulated water flow. These results show that thromboxane A(2)-like compounds stimulate water flow in the toad urinary bladder.