The single file hypothesis and the water channels induced by antidiuretic hormone

Abstract

Unidirectional and net water movements were determined at minute intervals in frog urinary bladders. The changes in both parameters were followed, during the action of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), at different temperatures and stirring conditions. After correction for external unstirred layer effects, the ratio of the osmotic (Pf) and diffusional (Pd) permeability coefficients was remarkably constant, at different times and in different experimental conditions. In the presence of ADH the ΔPf/ΔPd ratio in the mucosal border was probably greater than 9. On the other hand, in nonstimulated preparations the ratio was smaller, and probably not different from 1. These results, together with previous observations indicating that other small molecules (like urea) are excluded from the ADH-induced channel, might indicate that single-file water movement can occur through this structure. Alternatively, the ΔPf/ΔPd ratio could result from a complex geometric arrangement in series with the aqueous pore.