Prostaglandin E2 inhibits vasotocin-induced osmotic water permeability in the frog urinary bladder by EP1-receptor-mediated activation of NO/cGMP pathway.

PGE2 is a well-known inhibitor of the antidiuretic hormone-induced increase of osmotic water permeability (OWP) in different osmoregulatory epithelia; however, the mechanisms underlying this effect of PGE2 are not completely understood. Here, we report that, in the frog Rana temporaria urinary bladder, EP1-receptor-mediated inhibition of arginine-vasotocin (AVT)-induced OWP by PGE2 is attributed to increased generation of nitric oxide (NO) in epithelial cells. It was shown that the inhibitory effect of 17-phenyl-trinor-PGE2 (17-ph-PGE2), an EP1 agonist, on AVT-induced OWP was significantly reduced in the presence of 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), a neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) inhibitor. NO synthase (NOS) activity in both lysed and intact epithelial cells measured as a rate of conversion of l-[3H]arginine to l-[3H]citrulline was Ca2+ dependent and inhibited by 7-NI. PGE2 and 17-ph-PGE2, but not M&B-28767 (EP3 agonist) or butaprost (EP2 agonist), stimulated NOS activity in epithelial cells. The above effect of PGE2 was abolished in the presence of SC-19220, an EP1 antagonist. 7-NI reduced the stimulatory effect of 17-ph-PGE2 on NOS activity. 17-ph-PGE2 increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration and cGMP in epithelial cells. Western blot analysis revealed an nNOS expression in epithelial cells. These results show that the inhibitory effect of PGE2 on AVT-induced OWP in the frog urinary bladder is based at least partly on EP1-receptor-mediated activation of the NO/cGMP pathway, suggesting a novel cross talk between AVT, PGE2, and nNOS that may be important in the regulation of water transport.