Alterations in membrane-associated particle distribution during antidiuretic challenge in frog urinary bladder epithelium.

Frog urinary bladder epithelium has been examined by freeze-fracture electron microscopy of preparations previously fixed by glutaraldehyde either at rest or during antidiuretic challenge. All the agonists tested were observed to induce membrane particle clustering in the A face of the apical plasma membrane of granular cells. This was the case for the natural hormone (hypophysical extracts) and its presumed cellular mediator, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate. Particle clustering was observed both in the presence and in the absence of water net flow and is thus independent of these movements. Clusters were also observed during hydrosmotic challenge by hypertonic serosal media, a condition which depresses transepithelial sodium transport. No complementary patterns of these A face clusters could be found on the B face. The significance of these membrane-associated particle clusters is discussed in terms of membrane structure and function.