In-vivo and ex-vivo inhibition of intestinal glucose uptake: A scope for antihyperglycemia

ObjectiveTo study hypoglycemic effect of Phyllanthus amarus (P. amarus) leaf extract and its glucose uptake inhibition effect in rat small intestine ex-vivo and in vivo models.MethodsHypoglycemic studies were carried out in glucose loaded and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic albino rats. Blood glucose levels were estimated at I, III and IV hour time intervals after administration of aqueous leaf extract of P. amarus. The study on the effect of plant extract on intestinal glucose absorption in rat was carried out using everted gut sacs.ResultsThe blood glucose levels were significantly depleted in the animals administered with aqueous leaf extract of P. amarus (250 mg/kg body weight). Incubation of the rat everted intestinal sacs with the aqueous leaf extract of P. amarus resulted in the inhibition of glucose transport across the intestinal membrane.ConclusionsThe kinetic studies on the glucose transport inhibition across the intestinal membrane by the plant extract was a non competitive type of inhibition of the intestinal glucose transporter protein (GLUT2 and SGLT1) revealing the probable mechanism of hypoglycaemic effect of the aqueous leaf extract of P. amarus .     

Direct effect of metolazone on sodium-dependent transport across the renal brush border membrane

Studies with clearance and micropuncture techniques indicate that metolazone inhibits transport of sodium and phosphate in the proximal tubule. The present study is focused on transport across the luminal BBM of the proximal tubule to determine whether metolazone has any direct effect on this initial step in transtubular reabsorption. Addition of metolazone (0.01 to 1.00 mM) to isolated renal BBM vesicles caused dose-dependent inhibition (30% to 70%) of the initial uphill phase of Na+ gradient-dependent phosphate transport but did not inhibit the uptake at equilibrium. There were no significant changes in Na+-independent phosphate transport and phosphate transport under nongradient conditions when metolazone was present at 1.0 mM. The initial Na+ gradient-dependent BBM transport of both D-glucose and L-proline was markedly inhibited by 1.0 mM metolazone, indicating the nonspecific inhibitory action of the drug. Metolazone also inhibited efflux of D-glucose and L-proline from vesicles. Neither acetazolamide nor chlorothiazide at 0.1 to 1.0 mM inhibited BBM transport of phosphate, D-glucose, or L-proline. Metolazone did not change significantly BBM transport of Na+, suggesting that inhibition of Na+-dependent transport was not due to major changes in Na+ flux. These in vitro data indicate that metolazone inhibition of phosphate reabsorption in vivo may be due, in part, to a direct effect of metolazone on transport across the BBM of the proximal tubule.     

Inhibitory effect of unconjugated bile acids on the enterohepatic circulation of methotrexate

The effect of unconjugated cholic and deoxycholic acids on intestinal and hepatic transport and bile secretion of methotrexate was studied using everted sacs of rat proximal jejunum and isolated perfused rat liver. Cholic and deoxycholic acids competitively inhibit the mucosal-to-serosal transport of methotrexate (Ki, 0.08 and 0.06 mM, respectively). Cholic and deoxycholic acids also decrease intestinal tissue content of methotrexate in a concentration-dependent manner. Structural and functional damage to the intestinal mucosa does not occur in tissue treated with 0.1 mM and lower concentration of deoxycholic acid as assessed by histological studies, transmural potential difference measurements and the release of the cytoplasmic marker enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase. In the isolated liver, cholic and deoxycholic acids inhibit the uptake, retention and biliary secretion of methotrexate. At 1 mM cholic and deoxycholic acids, 72 and 80% inhibition in liver uptake and 93 and 99% inhibition in bile secretion of 1 microM methotrexate are observed, respectively. These studies demonstrate that unconjugated bile acids inhibit the enterohepatic circulation of methotrexate by impairing its intestinal transport and hepatic uptake and retention and biliary secretion.     

Inhibitory effects of substance P and carbachol on the saturable sodium-dependent uptake process of myo-inositol in rat parotid gland.

myo-Inositol uptake in prisms of rat parotid glands was investigated by measuring both the accumulation of free myo-[3H] inositol into the cytosol and its incorporation into phospholipids. Total myo-[3H]inositol uptake involved two distinct processes, a prominent one which is saturable and sodium-dependent (Km, 95 microM; Vmax, 8 pmol/mg of protein per min) and a minor one, nonsaturable and sodium-independent. Phloretin and cytochalasin B, two inhibitors of hexose transport, and D-glucose, but only at high concentrations (greater than 10 mM), inhibited myo-[3H]inositol uptake. Dixon plots of the data indicated that D-glucose inhibition was noncompetitive suggesting that myo-inositol and D-glucose are transported by different carriers. Electrogenic cotransport of sodium and myo-inositol, rather than energy derived from mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, seems to be involved in the transport process. Thus, ouabain, monensin or veratridine, all of which increase intracellular sodium concentrations, reduced myo-[3H]inositol uptake, whereas dinitrophenol, potassium cyanide and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone were without effect. Substance P affected only the sodium-dependent uptake process of myo-[3H]inositol, this inhibitory effect requiring extracellular calcium. Similar observations were made with the muscarinic agonist carbachol. From these results, an increase in intracellular sodium concentration linked to the activation of calcium-sensitive cation-permeant channels appears to be responsible for the inhibitory effects of substance P and carbachol on myo-[3H]inositol uptake, these effects being mediated respectively by NK1 and muscarinic receptors coupled to a phospholipase C.     

Calcium dependence of serotonin-induced changes in rabbit ileal electrolyte transport.

These studies describe the calcium dependence of the serotonin-induced changes in active electrolyte transport in rabbit ileum in vitro. In the presence of a standard calcium concentration (1.2 mM) in the serosal bathing fluid, serosal serotonin caused a transient increase in short-circuit current and a prolonged decrease in net Na and Cl fluxes. Removing calcium from the serosal (no calcium plus 1 mM EGTA) but not the mucosal bathing fluid inhibited the serotoin-induced increase in ileal short-circuit current, and also completely blocked the serotonin effects on net Na and net Cl fluxes. This inhibition was rapidly reversed by readding calcium. Removing serosal calcium did not inhibit all active electrolyte transport processes, as the effect of a maximum concentration of theophylline (10 mM) was not altered. Similarly, d,l-verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibited the serotonin-induced changes in short-circuit current and in net Na and net Cl fluxes, but did not alter the theophylline effects. In contrast, d-verapamil, a stereoisomer which does not block calcium channels, did not inhibit the serotonin-induced changes. The calcium dependence of these serotonin effects was associated with increased uptake of 45Ca into rabbit ileum, including increaed 45Ca uptake from the serosal surface. Serotonin also increased the rate of 45Ca efflux from rabbit ileum into a calcium-free solution, compatible with serotonin increasing the ileal plasma membrane permeability to calcium. It is postulated that serotonin affects active intestinal electrolyte transport by a mechanism dependent on serosal but not mucosal calcium that involves an increase in the intestinal plasma membrane permeability to calcium, and perhaps an increase in intracellular calcium.     

The Role of Phosphate in the Action of Vitamin D on the Intestine

The response of chick intestine to vitamin D and its metabolites was studied in an organ culture preparation of chick ileum explants. Both 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD₃) at a concentration of 20 ng/ml or greater and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25-(OH)₂D₃] at a concentration of 50 pg/ml or greater stimulated the rate of accumulation of [³²P]phosphate and ⁴⁵Ca by the explants and the incorporation of [³H]thymidine into DNA. The accumulation of [³²P]phosphate by the explants was against a concentration gradient and inhibited by ouabain and dinitrophenol. Two saturable mechanisms appeared to mediate the cellular accumulation of phosphate with K_a of 0.0047 and 0.125 mM, respectively. The V_max of the lower affinity transport mechanism was accelerated by 1,25-(OH)₂D₃. Actinomycin D (5.0 μg/ml) did not block the intestinal response to 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ stimulation of both [³²p]phosphate and ⁴⁵Ca accumulation. Significant stimulation of [³²P]phosphate accumulation was observed 30 min after the addition of 1,25-(OH)₂D₃, preceding the sterol-induced increase in the rate of ⁴⁵Ca uptake by 30 min and the sterol-induced increase in [³H]thymidine incorporation into DNA by 150 min. Increasing extracellular phosphate concentration to 3.0 mM increased [³H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and the rate of ⁴⁵Ca uptake by the explants. Reducing extracellular phosphate concentration to 0.05 mM attenuated the response of the explants to 1,25-(OH)₂D₃. From these observations it is postulated that the primary action of vitamin D sterols in the intestine is to enhance the ability of the mucosal cell to accumulate phosphate. The data suggest that restoration of intracellular phosphate levels may then permit expression of the cells' response to vitamin D sterols.     

Ischemia induces surface membrane dysfunction. Mechanism of altered Na+-dependent glucose transport.

Reversible ischemia reduced renal cortical brush border membrane (BBM) Na+-dependent D-glucose uptake (336 +/- 31 vs. 138 +/- 30 pmol/mg per 2 s, P less than 0.01) but had no effect on Na+-independent glucose or Na+-dependent L-alanine uptake. The effect on D-glucose uptake was present after only 15 min of ischemia and was due to a reduction in maximum velocity (1913 +/- 251 vs. 999 +/- 130 pmol/mg per 2 s; P less than 0.01). This reduction was not due to more rapid dissipation of the Na+ gradient, altered sidedness of the vesicles, or an alteration in membrane potential. Ischemia did, however, reduce the BBM sphingomyelin-to-phosphatidylcholine (SPH/PC) and cholesterol-to-phospholipid ratios and the number of specific high-affinity Na+-dependent phlorizin binding sites (390 +/- 43 vs. 146 +/- 24 pmol/mg; P less than 0.01) without altering the binding dissociation constant (Kd). 20 mM benzyl alcohol also reduced the number of Na+-dependent phlorizin binding sites (418 +/- 65 vs. 117 +/- 46; P less than 0.01) without altering Kd. The reduction in Na+-dependent D-glucose transport correlated with ischemic-induced changes in the BBM SPH/PC and cholesterol-to-phospholipid ratios and membrane fluidity. Taken together these data indicate the cellular site responsible for ischemic-induced reduction in renal cortical transcellular glucose transport is the BBM. We propose the mechanism involves marked alterations in BBM lipids leading to large increases in BBM fluidity which reduces the binding capacity of Na+-dependent glucose carriers. These data indicate that reversible ischemia has profound effects on the surface membrane function of epithelial cells.     

Fetal bile salt metabolism. The intestinal absorption of bile salt.

The intestinal absorption of sodium taurocholate was studied in the near-term fetal and neonatal dog. Absorption rates were measured in vivo in isolated loops of fetal jejunum and ileum. Absorption was also measured in vitro in everted sacs and rings of fetal and neonatal jejunum and ileum. The maximal rates of taurocholate absorption observed after instillation of 1 micronmol taurocholate into closed segments of fetal jejunum and ileum with intact blood supply were not significantly different (P less than 0.2), and equalled 0.282+/-0.026 (mean+/-SEM) and 0.347+/-0.051 micronmol/h per 10-cm segment length jejunum and ileum, respectively. Similarly, the rates of absorption from open segments of jejunum and ileum perfused with 0.4 and 1.0 mM taurocholate were nearly identical (0.232+/-0.040 and 0.255+/-0.039, respectively at 0.4 mM, and 0.470+/-0.065 and 0.431+/-0.013, respectively at 1.0 mm) (P greater than 0.2). At perfusate concentrations of 4.0 mM, moreoever, jejunal absorption exceeded ileal absorption (1.490+/-0.140 and 0.922+/-0.200, respectively (P less than 0.05). As expected, concentration of taurocholate by the mucosa was readily demonstrated in adult ileal, but not in adult jejunal everted rings. In contrast, there were no significant differences in mucosal uptake of taurocholate by fetal jejunal and ileal rings. Fetal ileal mucosal concentrations were not significantly above those in the incubation medium after 1-h exposure of the mucosa to 0.003, 0.03, and 0.3 mM taurocholate. Uptake was proportional to incubation medium concentration over the full range of values. This was also true of tissues from 1-wk-old neonates. However, by 2 wk of age, ileal mucosal concentration of taurocholate was evident and adult levels were attained by 5 wk of age. It is concluded that taurocholate is absorbed by the fetal gut and that ileal absorption is no more efficient than jejunal absorption. Although active glucose transport was demonstrable in both jejunum and ileum, it was not possible to demonstrate an ileal mechanism for active transport of taurocholate in the fetus. Active ileal transport was not demonstrable in the newborn until at least 2 wk after birth.     

Rapid Transient Efflux of Phosphate Ions from Pancreatic Islets as an Early Action of Insulin Secretagogues

Anionic fluxes during the membrane realignments of stimulated insulin release have not been characterized previously although cations have been implicated in stimulus-secretion coupling. We have shown that a limited packet pulse of phosphate release ("phosphate flush") begins at the same time that the first phase of insulin secretion may occur. To demonstrate this phenomenon, we have prelabeled islets, obtained from rat pancreas by collagenase digestions, by incubation with [(32)P]orthophosphate. When such prelabeled islets are perifused with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate containing 0.5 mg/ml D-glucose, a basal rate of efflux of radioactivity is established; transfer to perifusates containing 3.0 mg/ml D-glucose elicits an increased (32)P efflux within 1-2 min to peak values which are 7- to 21-fold greater than basal. The total duration of this "phosphate flush" approximates 10 min and exceeds the duration of the first phase of stimulated insulin secretion. With lesser concentrations of glucose, the flush exhibits dose-response relationships, and with 3 mg/ml glucose, a second flush can be elicited by restoring basal conditions and stimulating anew with 3 mg/ml glucose. The phenomenon is highly specific and can be reduplicated by other secretagogues (L-leucine) or sugars (D-mannose) which are also known to elicit insulin release but not by sugars which fail to affect insulin secretion (D-galactose, D-fructose, i-inositol, L-glucose). The efflux of radioactivity consists entirely of [(32)P]orthophosphate. Phosphate flush persists in phosphate-free media, Ca(++)-free media, and when insulin release is obtunded by adding Ni(++) (2 mM) to the perifusates. Thus, efflux of [(32)P]orthophosphate can be dissociated from insulin extrusion, and from net influx of ionic phosphate or calcium. Membrane stabilization with D(2)O or 1.0 mM tetracaine reversibly inhibits phosphate flush. Although the mechanism by which this effect occurs has not yet been established, the phosphate flush appears to constitute one of the earliest and hitherto unknown indices of the excitatory state in pancreatic islets.     

Changes in red blood cell membrane phosphate concentration during blood bank storage

The change in red blood cell membrane phosphate concentration of standard CPD whole blood stored in Fenwal blood bags at 4 C was measured daily for two weeks. Membrane phosphate concentrations increased rapidly when stored pH fell to 6.95. At the same time, the rate of K+ leakage from the cells increased, and transport of inorganic phosphate across the membrane decreased. It is concluded that gross uptake of phosphorus by the red blood cell membrane during blood bank storage may be in part responsible for physical changes in the membrane.     

Possible role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as an intracellular regulator of renal transport of phosphate in the rat.

In these experiments we investigated whether NAD could serve as an intracellular modulator of the brush border membrane (BBM) transport of inorganic phosphate (Pi). NAD, both oxidized (NAD+) and reduced (NADH) form, inhibited the Na+-dependent uptake of 32Pi in the concentration range of 10-300 microM NAD when added in vitro to BBM vesicles isolated from rat kidney cortex, but did not inhibit BBM uptake of D-[3H]glucose or BBM uptake of 22Na+. Neither nicotinamide (NiAm) nor adenosine alone influenced BBM uptake of 32Pi. NAD had a similar relative effect (percent inhibition) in BBM from rats stabilized on low Pi diet (0.07% Pi), high Pi diet (1.2% Pi), or normal Pi diet (0.7% Pi). Subsequently, we examined the renal effects of changing the tissue NAD level in vivo. Rats stabilized on low Pi diet were injected intraperitoneally with NiAm (0.25-1.0 g/kg body wt); urinary excretions of Pi (UPiV), of fluid, and of other solutes were measured before and after NiAm injection, then renal cortical tissue nucleotide content was determined, and a BBM fraction was isolated for transport measurements. In BBM from NiAm-treated rats, the Na+-dependent uptake of 32Pi was decreased, but BBM uptake of D-[3H]glucose and BBM uptake of 22Na+ were not changed. NiAm injection elicited an increase in NAD+ (maximum change, 290%), a lesser increase in NADH (maximum change, +45%), but no change in the content of ATP or cyclic AMP in the renal cortex. Na+-dependent BBM uptake of 32Pi ws inversely correlated with NAD+ content in renal cortex (r = -0.77 +/- 0.1; P less than 0.001) and with UPiV (r = -0.67 +/- 0.13; P less than 0.01). NAD+ in renal cortex was positively correlated with UPiV (r = 0.88 +/- 0.05; P less than 0.001). Injection of NiAm elicited a marked increase in UPiV, but no change in excretions of creatinine or K+, or in urine flow; excretion of Na+ and Ca declined. NiAm injection caused similar renal responses, in normal and in thyroparathyroidectomized rats, as well as in rats on normal Pi diet and low Pi diet. We conclude that NAD can serve as an intracellular modulator (inhibitor) of Na+-dependent transport of Pi across the renal luminal BBM and across the proximal tubular wall by its direct interaction with BBM. We propose that at least some hormonal and/or metabolic stimuli elicit phosphaturia by increasing NAD+ in cytoplasm of proximal tubular cells.     

Cholesterol reduces the effects of dihydroxy bile acids and fatty acids on water and solute transport in the human jejunum.

Jejunal perfusion studies were performed in 16 healthy volunteers to test the hypothesis that intraluminal cholesterol can mitigate the fluid secretion induced by dihydroxy bile acids and fatty acids. Fluid secretion in the presence of 5 mM taurodeoxycholate was somewhat reduced by 4 mM mono-olein which was used for the solubilization of cholesterol. Addition of 0.8 mM cholesterol reduced fluid secretion further (P less than 0.05). Fluid secretion induced by 4 mM oleic acid was changed to net absorption in a linear fashion with increasing cholesterol concentration in the perfusion solutions. 1 mM cholesterol reduced fluid secretion induced by 6 mM oleic acid (P less than 0.005), but had no effect on fluid secretion induced by 6 mM linolenic acid. Glucose absorption was generally affected in a similar manner as water transport. In vitro, 1 mM cholesterol reduced monomer activity of 6 mM oleic acid to 72.3 +/- 0.9% of control and that of linolenic acid to 81.1 +/- 1.7% of control. Although statistically significant (P less than 0.001), the difference in the effects of cholesterol on monomer activities of the two fatty acids was rather small and it is unlikely that changes in monomer concentration of fatty acids and bile acids account for the protective effect of cholesterol. The in vivo observations point to a new physiological role for biliary cholesterol: the modification of the response of the small intestine to the effects of dihydroxy bile acids and fatty acids.     

Transepithelial transport of the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin by human airway epithelial Calu-3 cells.

Although fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin are able to gain access to lung tissue and both pleural and bronchial secretions, the characteristics of transport and cellular uptake of ciprofloxacin in human epithelial lung tissue remain obscure. We have chosen human airway epithelial (Calu-3) cells, reconstituted as functional epithelial layers grown on permeable filter supports, as a model with which to assess both transepithelial transport and cellular uptake of ciprofloxacin. Transepithelial ciprofloxacin fluxes in absorptive (apical-to-basal) and secretory (basal-to-apical) directions were similar throughout the concentration range studied (1.0 microM to 3.0 mM). Transepithelial mannitol fluxes measured concurrently were substantially smaller than ciprofloxacin fluxes in Calu-3 epithelia, suggesting the existence of a mediated transcellular route in addition to a paracellular route for transepithelial permeation. Apical-to-basal ciprofloxacin flux (at 10 microM) was inhibited by a 100-fold excess of unlabelled norfloxacin, enoxacin, and ofloxacin, while secretory flux was unaffected. Cellular uptake of ciprofloxacin, determined as a cell/medium ratio, was greater from the basal compartment (2.7-fold) than apical uptake (1.39-fold) measured at 100 microM ciprofloxacin and showed no saturation up to 3 mM ciprofloxacin. Comparison of the permeation of ciprofloxacin was made with that of lipophilic substrates such as vinblastine and digoxin. There was a linear correlation between transepithelial permeability (Pa-b) and their oil/water partition coefficients with mannitol < ciprofloxacin < digoxin < vinblastine. Comparison of transport of ciprofloxacin across human airway Calu-3 epithelia with that across intestinal Caco-2 epithelia emphasizes the absence of a specific secretory pathway; ciprofloxacin permeation in Calu-3 epithelia appears to be mediated primarily by a transcellular route, with mediated transfer at apical and basal membranes occurring via transporters with low affinity to ciprofloxacin.     

Cellular uptake of dietary flavonoid quercetin 4'-beta-glucoside by sodium-dependent glucose transporter SGLT1

Although it has been suggested that the intestinal glucose transporter may actively absorb dietary flavonoid glucosides, there is a lack of direct evidence for their transport by this system. In fact, our previous studies with the human Caco-2 cell model of intestinal absorption demonstrated that a major dietary flavonoid, quercetin 4'-beta-glucoside, is effluxed by apically expressed multidrug resistance-associated protein-2, potentially masking evidence for active absorption. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that quercetin 4'-beta-glucoside is a substrate for the intestinal sodium-dependent D-glucose cotransporter SGLT1. Cellular uptake of quercetin 4'-beta-glucoside was examined with Caco-2 cells and SGLT1 stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells (G6D3 cells). Although quercetin 4'-beta-glucoside is not absorbed across Caco-2 cell monolayers, examination of the cells by indirect fluorescent microscopy as well as by HPLC analysis of cellular content revealed cellular accumulation of this glucoside after apical loading. Consistent with previous observations, the accumulation of quercetin 4'-beta-glucoside in both Caco-2 and G6D3 cells was markedly enhanced in the presence of multidrug resistance-associated protein inhibition. Uptake of quercetin 4'-beta-glucoside was greater in SGLT1-transfected cells than in parental Chinese hamster ovary cells. Uptake of the glucoside by Caco-2 and G6D3 cells was sodium-dependent and was inhibited by the monovalent ionophore nystatin. In both Caco-2 and G6D3 cells, quercetin 4'-beta-glucoside uptake was inhibited by 30 mM glucose and 0.5 mM phloridzin. These results demonstrate for the first time that quercetin 4'-beta-glucoside is transported by SGLT1 across the apical membrane of enterocytes.     

Interactions of a nonpeptidic drug, valacyclovir, with the human intestinal peptide transporter (hPEPT1) expressed in a mammalian cell line

The results of previous work performed in our laboratory using an in situ perfusion technique in rats and rabbit apical brush border membrane vesicles have suggested that the intestinal uptake of valacyclovir (VACV) appears to be mediated by multiple membrane transporters. Using these techniques, it is difficult to characterize the transport kinetics of VACV with each individual transporter in the presence of multiple known or unknown transporters. The purpose of this study was to characterize the interaction of VACV and the human intestinal peptide transporter using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that overexpress the human intestinal peptide transporter (hPEPT1) gene. VACV uptake was significantly greater in CHO cells transfected with hPEPT1 than in cells transfected with only the vector, pcDNA3. The optimum pH for VACV uptake was determined to occur at pH 7.5. Proton cotransport was not observed in hPEPT1/CHO cells, consistent with previously observed results in tissues and Caco-2 cells. VACV uptake was concentration dependent and saturable with a Michaelis-Menten constant and maximum velocity of 1.64 +/- 0.06 mM and 23.34 +/- 0.36 nmol/mg protein/5 min, respectively. A very similar Km value was obtained in hPEPT1/CHO cells and in rat and rabbit tissues and Caco-2 cells, suggesting that hPEPT1 dominates the intestinal transport properties of VACV in vitro. VACV uptake was markedly inhibited by various dipeptides and beta-lactam antibiotics, and Ki values of 12.8 +/- 2.7 and 9.1 +/- 1.2 mM were obtained for Gly-Sar and cefadroxil at pH 7.5, respectively. The present results demonstrate that VACV is a substrate for the human intestinal peptide transporter in hPEPT1/CHO cells and that although transport is pH dependent, proton cotransport is not apparent. Also, the results demonstrate that the hPEPT1/CHO cell system has use in investigating the transport kinetics of drugs with the human intestinal peptide transporter hPEPT1; however, the extrapolation of these transport properties to the in vivo situation requires further investigation.     

Cimetidine transport in isolated brush border membrane vesicles from bovine choroid plexus

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the transport of cimetidine across the brush border membrane of choroid plexus epithelium. Brush border membrane vesicles were prepared from bovine choroid plexus and the uptake of [3H]cimetidine was studied using the methods of rapid vacuum filtration and scintillation counting. Cimetidine accumulated in the vesicles with time reaching equilibrium within 2 hr. The amount of cimetidine taken up by the vesicles at equilibrium decreased with increasing extravesicular media osmolarity suggesting that cimetidine accumulates in an osmotically reactive intravesicular space. Binding of cimetidine to the membrane was estimated to be less than 18%. Michaelis-Menten studies demonstrated that cimetidine transport involved both a saturable and a nonsaturable component. The Vmax and Km (mean +/- S.E.) were 16.7 +/- 5.9 pmol/sec/mg protein and 58.1 +/- 3.1 microM, respectively, suggesting that cimetidine is transported across the choroid plexus brush border membrane with a lower affinity and a higher capacity than across the renal brush border membrane. The organic cation, quinidine (0.1 mM), and the amino acid, histidine (20 mM), both significantly reduced the initial, but not the equilibrium, uptake of cimetidine. However, high concentrations (5 mM) of more polar organic cations including tetraethylammonium, as well as of several organic anions including salicylate did not inhibit cimetidine transport. Studies with unlabeled cimetidine revealed a countertransport phenomenon. Attempts to drive the concentrative uptake of cimetidine with various ion gradients were unsuccessful. Of note was the fact that an outwardly directed proton gradient could significantly accelerate the uptake of cimetidine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of bile salts on transport rates and routes of FITC-labelled compounds across porcine buccal epithelium in vitro

In this study the penetration enhancing effect of bile salts on the transport of hydrophilic macromolecular compounds across porcine buccal mucosa was investigated in-vitro. Coadministration of 100 mM of the trihydroxy bile salts sodium glycocholate (GC) and sodium taurocholate (TC) and the dihydroxy bile salts sodium glycodeoxycholate (GDC) and sodium taurodeoxycholate (TDC) increased the in-vitro transport of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) by a factor of a hundred or more, without a significant difference between the four bile salts. The concentration dependence of the enhancing effect of GDC was studied using FITC-labelled dextrans of increasing molecular weight as permeants (FD4, MW 4400; FD10, MW 9400; FD20, MW 19 600). The maximal enhancement was observed when GDC was coadministered in a concentration of 10 mM, resulting in an enhancement ratio of about 2000 for FD4. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy the effects of bile salts on the penetration pathways of hydrophilic compounds were investigated. The uniform distribution of FITC throughout the epithelium was changed by coadministration of 100 mM of bile salt to an increased amount of the fluorescent probe present in the intercellular domains. The intercellular distribution of both FD4 and FD10 was not changed by a low, but effective, concentration of GDC (2 mM, enhancement ratio of 72 for FD4). Increasing the concentration of GDC to 10 and 100 mM resulted in uptake of the fluorescent probe in the epithelial cells. From these results we conclude that the di- and trihydroxy bile salts studied increase the transport of hydrophilic compounds across buccal epithelium in vitro, below 10 mM by increasing the intercellular transport and at 10 mM and higher concentrations by opening up a transcellular route.     

Reversal of Cyclic AMP-Mediated Intestinal Secretion by Ethacrynic Acid

Ethacrynic acid (EA) has been reported to reduce cholera toxin-induced intestinal fluid secretion in the intact animal. We explored the nature of this inhibition in vitro by measuring unidirectional, transmural fluxes of (22)Na and (36)Cl across isolated rabbit ileal mucosa. Under control conditions (short-circuited mucosa bathed in bicarbonate-Ringer), there was net absorption of Na and Cl. Theophylline (10 mM), cyclic AMP (5 mM), and cholera toxin (added in vivo) abolished net Na flux and produced net Cl secretion. In the presence of either theophylline or cAMP, addition of 0.1 mM EA to the serosal bathing solution abolished net Cl secretion and restored net Na absorption. Cholera toxin-treated mucosa was exposed to 0.05 and 1.0 mM EA. The lower concentration restored net Na absorption but did not significantly reduce Cl secretion. The higher concentration abolished net transport of both Na and Cl. Short-circuit current and Na flux measurements in the presence and absence of glucose indicated that 0.1 mM EA does not inhibit glucose-coupled Na transport. Short-circuit current measurements in the presence of 1.0 mM EA suggested that even this concentration of EA does not inhibit glucose-coupled Na transport. Thus EA appears to specifically inhibit Cl (or NaCl) secretion without inhibiting the absorptive Na "pump." The anti-secretory effect of 0.1 mM EA does not appear to result from inhibition of adenylate cyclase since secretion stimulated by addition of 5 mM cAMP was abolished. Furthermore, 0.1 mM EA did not significantly reduce theophylline-augmented and cholera toxin-augmented cAMP levels in ileal mucosa. We conclude that EA interacts specifically with the active Cl (or NaCl) secretory mechanism of the small intestine at a step beyond generation of cAMP.     

HgCl2 inhibition of D-glucose transport in jejunal tissue from 2 day and 21 day chicks

Chick jejunal slices that were exposed to HgCl2 exhibited markedly reduced uptakes of D-glucose. The carrier-mediated (phloridzin inhibitable), but not diffusive, component of uptake was affected by Hg. Within each age group, I50 values (concentration of HgCl2 causing 50% inhibition of mediated transport) for slices (mucosal plus serosal exposure) and sacs (mucosal exposure only) were nearly identical; values for brush border membrane vesicles were slightly lower (increased sensitivity). For each preparation, I50 values for 2 day chicks were consistently lower than corresponding values for 21 day chicks. Taken together, these data indicate that the jejunal brush border membrane is a site of HgCl2 action and that membrane sites in tissue from 2 day chicks are more sensitive to Hg than similar sites in tissue from 21 day chicks.     

Nucleotide stimulation of Cl(-) secretion in the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva.

We evaluated the role of extracellular UTP and other nucleotides in the regulation of active ion transport across the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva. When added to the mucosal side of the conjunctiva, UTP (0.01-1000 microM), increased the short-circuit current by up to 14. 6 +/- 2.1 microA/cm(2). The half-maximal concentration was 11.4 +/- 2.3 microM. The serosal absence of Cl(-), serosal presence of 10 microM bumetanide, and mucosal presence of 0.3 mM N-phenylanthranilic acid significantly reduced the change in the short-circuit current (DeltaIsc) induced by 10 microM UTP by 78, 77, and 42%, respectively. Mucosal 10 microM UTP significantly increased (36)Cl flux in the serosal-to-mucosal direction by 0.17 microEq/cm(2)/h, while not affecting mucosal-to-serosal (36)Cl flux. By contrast, (22)Na transport in either direction was unaffected. The rank order of DeltaIsc elicited by adenosine and nucleotides was consistent with the predominant involvement of P2Y purinergic receptors in the UTP effect on conjunctival ion transport. Moreover, the DeltaIsc elicited by UTP was inhibited by 0.05 and 1 mM suramin (a P2-purinergic receptor antagonist), resulting in a rightward shift of the half-maximal concentration to 106.7 +/- 1.3 microM. In conclusion, the primary effect of UTP on ion transport in the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva is stimulation of Cl(-) secretion, possibly at the P2Y(2) and/or the P2Y(4) receptor on the mucosal side of the tissue. Because of the coupling of fluid flow with Cl(-) secretion, UTP or its analogs may be considered for stimulating transconjunctival fluid flow in the dry-eye state.