The role of the lateral intercellular spaces and solute polarization effects in the passive flow of water across the rabbit gallbladder

Abstract

Osmotic water flows were measured acrossin vitro preparations of the rabbit gallbladder by a gravimetric technique. The bladders exhibited asymmetrical osmotic behavior, in which theL _p (hydraulic conductivity) for water flow from mucosa to serosa was up to four times greater than theL _p for water flow in the opposite direction. This result is similar to the effects of osmotic gradients on ion and nonelectrolyte permeability reported in the first paper. As in the case of solute permeability, these changes inL _p are accounted for by changes in the dimensions of the lateral intercellular spaces of the epithelium. These spaces are thus a final common pathway for the movement of both solutes and water across the epithelium. We also observed osmotic flow transients in which the initialL _p was about an order of magnitude greater than the steady stateL _p . These transients are largely explained by solute polarization in the unstirred layers adjacent to the epithelial membranes. A comparison between streaming potentials and water flows showed that streaming potentials are directly proportional to the rate of flow only over a limited range. These observations are readily explained on the basis of structural changes and solute polarization effects. Finally, the routes of water flow across epithelia are discussed in the light of our observations.