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Frogs reabsorb glucose from urinary bladder

Nature volume 389, pages 343–344 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

The amphibian urinary bladder is a bilobate, highly distensible and vascularized sac that stores fluid for use during periods of water stress1. The organ is composed of a thin basement membrane overlaid by a selectively permeable ‘tight’ epithelium and is important in the homeostatic regulation of ion and osmolyte balance2,3. We report here that glucose reabsorption from the urinary bladder permits recovery of sugar destined for excretion in the freeze-tolerant frog Rana sylvatica, whose unique winter survival strategy invokes extreme hyperglycaemia and ultimately, glucosuria.

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Figure 1: Time course for net glucose efflux.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, 45056, Ohio, USA

    Jon P. Costanzo, Phyllis A. Callahan, Richard E. Lee Jr & Michael F. Wright

Authors
  1. Jon P. Costanzo
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  2. Phyllis A. Callahan
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  3. Richard E. Lee Jr
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  4. Michael F. Wright
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Costanzo, J., Callahan, P., Lee Jr, R. et al. Frogs reabsorb glucose from urinary bladder. Nature 389, 343–344 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/38644

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