THE ROLE OF THE TOAD URINARY BLADDER IN THE AMPHIBIAN 'WATER BALANCE EFFECT' OF NEUROHYPOPHYSIAL HORMONES

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Abstract
Anuran Amphibia (frogs and toads) sitting in tap water increase in weight when injected with neurohypophysial hormones (Brunn, 1921). This response has been called the 'Brunn' or 'water-balance' effect (Heller, 1941) and reflects water retention by the animal. The effect results from an action of the hormones at three sites: the skin, which becomes more permeable to water, the kidney, which produces less urine, and the bladder, from which urinary stored water can be reabsorbed (see Bentley, 1963). Urodele Amphibia (newts and salamanders) also retain water when injected with neurohypophysial hormones, but in the species so far examined the response is due either to an action on the kidney as in Triturus (Bentley & Heller, 1964), or on the urinary bladder as in Salamandra maculosa (Bentley & Heller, 1965). The relative importance of these organs in water retention by anuran Amphibia has not been examined previously and this is the

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