Cyclophosphamide metabolites perforate the apical plasma membranes of urothelial cells in rats.

The apical plasma membrane of differentiated superficial urothelial cells is characterised by the presence of asymmetric unit membrane (AUM). Cyclophosphamide (CP) metabolites cause perforation of these thickened membranes. In this study, apical plasma membranes were examined after CP injection by electron microscopy. The immediate effect of the CP metabolites was observed as small round holes appearing, first in the asymmetric apical plasma membrane of terminally differentiated superficial cells, and later in the symmetric apical plasma membrane of exposed undifferentiated intermediate and basal cells. Exposed cells which remained undamaged, immediately underwent maturation of the symmetric apical plasma membrane. These results indicate that CP metabolites perforate the symmetric and asymmetric membranes of most urothelial cells.