Lack of intramembranous particle clusters in collecting ducts of mice with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

We suggested previously, on the basis of indirect evidence, that in two strains of mice with nephrogenic defects of urinary concentration the deficiency arose from an inadequate rise in water permeability of the collecting duct system. In this study we tested the question further by assuming that the frequency of intramembranous particle (IMP) clusters seen by freeze-fracture can be used as a morphological marker of vasopressin-induced water permeability. Three genotypes of mice were studied: 1) DI +/+ Severe, with florid, vasopressin-resistant diabetes insipidus; 2) DI +/+ Nonsevere, with an intermediate deficiency of urinary concentration; and 3) normal, VII +/+ mice. In addition, we examined a group of DI +/+ Severe mice that had been injected with exogenous 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) subcutaneously for 3 days. Since the results in this group did not differ from those in untreated DI +/+ Severe mice, all data for this genotype were combined. IMP clusters within luminal membranes of inner medullary collecting duct principal cells were quantified by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Urinary osmolality and percentage of cells showing clusters were, respectively: 203 +/- 43 mosmol/kg H2O and 0% in DI +/+ Severe mice; 1,133 +/- 86 and 33 +/- 4 in DI +/+ Nonsevere mice; and 2,234 +/- 190 and 52 +/- 5 in VII +/+ animals. With the exception of one animal, there was no overlap of the data, which were significantly different from one another for each variable. We conclude that in DI +/+ Severe mice, both endogenous and exogenous vasopressin are unable to increase the water permeability of medullary collecting ducts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)