Mode of action of amiloride in toad urinary bladder

Summary The effect of amiloride on the sensitivity to Na of the mucosal border of toad urinary bladder was investigated by recording Na concentration-dependent transepithelial potential difference (V _t ) and the intracellular potential. When mucosal Na concentration was normal, amiloride added to the mucosal solution at 10^–4 m markedly reduced the mucosal membrane potential (V _m ) and altered the potential profile from a two-step type to a well type. Similar changes were observed when Na was totally eliminated from the mucosal medium. The serosal membrane potential was insensitive to amiloride and elimination of mucosal Na. In the absence of amiloride, theV _t could be described by the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation in the range of mucosal Na concentration from 0 to 16mm, and amiloride extended this concentration range. By using the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation, Na permeability was calculated from the data ofV _t 's obtained in the allowed ranges of Na concentration and compared before and after the addition of amiloride. The results show that Na permeability decreases to 1/600 of control when the maximum dose of amiloride (10^–4 m) is applied. The relationship between Na permeability and amiloride concentration is well explained on the basis of assumptions that amiloride binds to the Na site of the mucosal border in one-to-one fashion and in a competitive manner with Na and that Na permeability reduces in proportion to increase in number of the sites bound with amiloride.