Open AccessEffects of Vasopressin on Epithelial Transport
Author(s) -
R. C. de Sousa
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1533-4023
pISSN - 0160-2446
DOI - 10.1097/00005344-198600087-00006
Subject(s) - vasopressin , water transport , biophysics , urea , chemistry , membrane , permeability (electromagnetism) , sodium , stimulation , membrane transport , mechanism of action , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , water flow , endocrinology , in vitro , organic chemistry , environmental engineering , engineering
Vasopressin increases the permeability of responsive epithelia for a variety of chemical species, such as sodium, urea, water, and lipophilic molecules. The analysis of the mechanisms leading to the stimulation of water transport (hydrosmotic action) is the main topic of this review. A model implying the quantal insertion of water channels into the apical epithelial membrane by an exocytosislike process is discussed with reference to biophysical, biochemical, and ultrastructural results obtained in the past few years. It is also shown that, in nonexcitable cells, insertion of transport units packed in intracytoplasmic structures may be a rather general mechanism for controlling membrane transport rates.