The effect of diuretics and vasopressin on the osmotic permeability of the frog urinary bladder.

1. Large concentrations (in mM) of ethacrynic acid (0.1), furosemide (1.0), theophylline (5.0) and osmotic diuretics (100.0) sharply increased the flux of water along an osmotic gradient through the frog urinary bladder wall. Spironolactone (0.1), and hydrochlorothiazide (5.0) showed only a weak action on osmotic permeability. MercusalR, clopamide and triamterene did not affect water transport. 2. The presence of 0.2--1.0 mU/ml vasopressin (ADH) after pretreatment with a diuretic did not result in summation of the effects of both drugs used. 0.01--0.1 mM ethacrynic acid and 0.01 mM MercusalR significantly decreased the reaction to ADH. 1.0 mM furosemide, 0.1 mM spironolactone, 0.01 mM clopamide and 0.8 mM acetazolamide did not change the reaction to ADH. A reduction in the cellular response to ADH and a decrease in the osmotic permeability of the tubular wall may be responsible in part for the diuretic action of ethacrynic acid and MercusalR.