Role of Organic Anion and Amino Acid Carriers in Transport of Inorganic Mercury in Rat Renal Basolateral Membrane Vesicles: Influence of Compensatory Renal Growth

Abstract

Susceptibility to renal injury induced by inorganic mercury (Hg²⁺) increases significantly as a result of compensatory renal growth (following reductions of renal mass). We hypothesize that this phenomenon is related in part to increased basolateral uptake of Hg²⁺ by proximal tubular cells. To determine the mechanistic roles of various transporters, we studied uptake of Hg²⁺, in the form of biologically relevant Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates, using baso-lateral membrane (BLM) vesicles isolated from the kidney(s) of control and uninephrectomized (NPX) rats. Binding of Hg²⁺ to membranes, accounted for 52–86% of total Hg²⁺ associated with membrane vesicles exposed to HgCl₂, decreased with increasing concentrations of HgCl₂, and decreased slightly in the presence of sodium ions. Conjugation of Hg²⁺ with thiols (glutathione, l-cysteine (Cys), N-acetyl-l-cysteine) reduced binding by more than 50%. Under all conditions, BLM vesicles from NPX rats exhibited a markedly lower proportion of binding. Of the Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates studied, transport of Hg-(Cys)₂ was fastest. Selective inhibition of BLM carriers implicated the involvement of organic anion transporter(s) (Oat1 and/or Oat3; Slc22a6 and Slc22a8), amino acid transporter system ASC (Slc7a10), the dibasic amino acid transporter (Slc3a1), and the sodium-dicarboxylate carrier (SDCT2 or NADC3; Slc13a3). Uptake of each mercuric conjugate, when factored by membrane protein content, was higher in BLM vesicles from uninephrectomized (NPX) rats, with specific increases in transport by the carriers noted above. These results support the hypothesis that compensatory renal growth is associated with increased uptake of Hg²⁺ in proximal tubular cells and we have identified specific transporters involved in the process.

INTRODUCTION

Inorganic mercury (Hg²⁺) is a potent and selective nephrotoxicant that accumulates primarily in the proximal tubular segments of the nephron (Barfuss et al., 1990; Tanaka-Kagawa et al., 1993; Zalups, 1991a, 1991b; Zalups and Barfuss, 1990). Uptake of Hg²⁺ by proximal tubular epithelial cells is mediated by transport proteins present in both luminal and basolateral plasma membranes (Zalups, 2000). Based on the distribution of plasma thiols and the high bonding-affinity between mercuric ions and the reduced sulfhydryl group or thiolate anion, mercuric conjugates of albumin, l-cysteine (Cys), and glutathione (GSH) are likely biologically relevant forms of Hg²⁺ present in the renal circulation. Mercuric conjugates of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAcCys) may also be present in blood due to hepatic metabolism and may prove to be important molecular species taken up at the basolateral membrane (BLM) of proximal tubular epithelial cells (Zalups, 1998a; Zalups and Barfuss, 1998a). Overall, though, the di-cysteine S-conjugate of mercury, (R)-2-amino-3-((R)-2-amino-2-carboxy-ethylsul-fanylmercuricsulfanyl) propionic acid (Hg-(Cys)₂), is likely one of the primary forms of Hg²⁺ transported by renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (Lash et al., 1998; Zalups and Barfuss, 1995a, 1998a; Zalups and Lash, 1997; Zalups and Minor, 1995).

Many carrier proteins in the plasma membrane have broad and often overlapping substrate specificities. Although certain molecules may be considered primary physiological substrates for a specific transporter, other molecules that are structural analogs of these substrates may also be transported by the same carrier protein. Zalups and colleagues (Cannon et al., 2000; Zalups, 2000) proposed that Hg-(Cys)₂ and cystine serve as molecular homologs or mimics of one another at the sites of amino acid transporters involved in the absorptive transport of cystine.

Various methods have been used recently to identify plasma membrane carrier proteins that mediate transport of mercuric conjugates of biologically relevant thiols into renal proximal tubular cells (Aslamkhan et al., 2003; Zalups, 2000). For example, competitive inhibition of the basolateral uptake of Hg-(Cys)₂ by p-aminohippurate (PAH) has implicated organic anion transporters (OAT1 and/or OAT3; Slc22a6 and Slc22a8, respectively) in the basolateral uptake of mercuric species along the proximal tubule (Zalups, 1995, 1998b; Zalups and Barfuss, 1995b; Zalups and Minor, 1995). Organic ion transporter proteins also appear to participate in the transport of the GSH S-conjugate of trichloroethylene (Lash and Jones, 1985a), suggesting that mercuric conjugates of GSH may also be transportable substrates of these carrier proteins (Lash et al., 1998; Zalups and Barfuss, 1995c).

More direct evidence for a role of OAT1 in the transport of Hg-(Cys)₂, the di-glutathione S-conjugate of inorganic mercury, (S)-2-amino-4-[(R)-2-[(R)-2-((S)-4-amino-4-carboxy-butyrylamino)-2-(carboxymethyl-carbamoyl)-ethylsulfanylm-ercuricsulfanyl]-1-(carboxymethyl-carbamoyl)-ethylcarbamoyl] butyric acid (Hg-(GSH)₂), and the di-N-acetyl-l-cysteine S-conjugate of inorganic mercury, (R)-2-acetylamino-3-((R)-2-acetylamino-2-carboxy-ethylsulfanylmercuricsulfanyl) propionic acid (Hg-(NAcCys)₂), comes from recent studies in which MDCK cells were transfected stably with human OAT1 (Aslamkhan et al., 2003; Zalups and Ahmad, 2004; Zalups et al., 2004). As compared to control MDCK cells, the transfected cells more readily transported these mercuric species and became more readily intoxicated by the mercuric conjugates. A role for the BLM sodium-dicarboxylate transporter (SDCT2 or NADC3; Slc13a3) has also been implicated in the transport of Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates in competitive inhibition experiments using small dicarboxylic acids (Zalups and Barfuss, 1998b, 2002).

A significant reduction in functional renal mass combined with compensatory renal cellular hypertrophy increases the susceptibility of the remaining functional renal mass to the nephropathy induced by exposure to Hg²⁺ (Houser and Berndt, 1986; Zalups, 1997; Zalups and Diamond, 1987; Zalups and Lash, 1990). Proximal tubular epithelial cells isolated from uninephrectomized (NPX) rats are also more sensitive to cellular injury induced by Hg²⁺ than those isolated from normal rats (Lash and Zalups, 1992; Lash et al., 1999). This enhanced sensitivity appears to be associated with enhanced uptake and accumulation of Hg²⁺ (Houser and Berndt, 1988; Zalups, 1991a; Zalups and Lash, 1990; Zalups et al., 1987), suggesting that membrane proteins involved in the transport of mercuric species play a regulatory role in the expression of the toxic effects of Hg²⁺.

We hypothesize that the mechanism by which compensatory renal growth causes increased accumulation of Hg²⁺ in proximal tubular epithelial cells is by increased activities of specific transporters of mercuric species at the luminal and/or basolateral plasma membrane. In the present study, we used the model of BLM vesicles isolated from kidney(s) of control and NPX rats to test the hypothesis that rates of basolateral transport of biologically relevant forms of Hg²⁺ increase significantly as a result of compensatory renal growth. Isolated membrane vesicles from kidney(s) of control and NPX rats are presently the most appropriate model to address this hypothesis. Other models, such as cell lines expressing specific carrier proteins, cannot reveal innate differences that result from the compensatory hypertrophy process that occur at the cellular and/or membrane level. Additionally, other methodological approaches, such as analysis of carrier expression by Western blotting, are problematic because only antibodies for some of the potential carriers are available and this will not provide information about post-translational modifications of carriers that may occur after compensatory renal growth. The present findings provide direct mechanistic support for the overall hypothesis, and identify specific carriers that are involved in the BLM transport of Hg-(Cys)₂, Hg-(GSH)₂, and Hg-(NAcCys)₂.

METHODS

Experimental design

The overall goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that “compensatory renal growth causes an increase in the activity of BLM carrier proteins that transport Hg²⁺ into proximal tubular epithelial cells.” Hg²⁺ is ostensibly never presented to the kidneys as a free, unbound mercuric ion, but rather, is bound in a coordinate covalent manner to one or more types of molecules possessing a reduced sulfhydryl group (Zalups and Lash, 1994). Evidence from several studies indicates that Hg-(Cys)₂ is likely one of the primary physiological forms of Hg²⁺ transported into proximal tubular epithelial cells. Furthermore, evidence indicates that mercuric conjugates of GSH and NAcCys are also physiologically relevant forms of Hg²⁺ that may be transported across the BLM.

To insure that all of the mercuric ions in solution were bonded in a linear II coordinate manner to the sulfur atom of the desired thiol being studied, HgCl₂ was mixed in a 1:3 molar ratio with Cys, GSH, or NAcCys. Although Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates formed in solution are forms of Hg²⁺ putatively transported into renal proximal tubular cells, we measured both the binding and transport of Hg²⁺ when it was in the form of HgCl₂ to provide a baseline for comparisons of binding and transport with Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates and for comparison with previous findings from our laboratories (Zalups and Lash, 1997).

In addition to investigating the binding and transport of HgCl₂ and Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates in isolated BLM vesicles from control and NPX rats, the present study delved further into the mechanisms involved in the basolateral transport of Hg²⁺ in proximal tubular epithelial cells by dissecting and separating the roles of five renal BLM transport systems in mediating the changes in Hg²⁺-thiol transport associated with compensatory renal growth secondary to a significant reduction in renal mass. Transport and binding were measured in both the presence and absence of Na⁺ ions, replacing NaCl with choline chloride for Na⁺-free incubations. Potential roles of specific carriers were assessed by incubating BLM vesicles simultaneously with 20 μM of a Hg²⁺-thiol conjugate and 500 μM of a characteristic substrate for each carrier. In some of the incubation conditions, combinations of characteristic carrier substrates, each at 500 μM, were used to further assess the simultaneous function of multiple carriers. The five carriers (or carrier families) studied, with their Na⁺ dependence and selective substrate indicated in parentheses, were: (1) The organic anion transporters (OAT1 [Slc22a6] and/or OAT3 [Slc22a8]; indirect Na⁺ dependence; PAH and glutarate); (2) the sodium-dicarboxylate 2 (SDCT2 or NaDC3) carrier (Slc13a3; Na⁺-dependent; glutarate); (3) the amino acid transporter, system ASC (Slc7a10; Na⁺-dependent; l-alanine); (4) the dibasic amino acid transporter (DBAT, Slc3a1; Na⁺-dependent; l-lysine); and (5) the amino acid transporter, system _L (Slc7a1/2; Na⁺-independent; l-phenylalanine). To promote the activity of OAT1 and OAT3, all BLM vesicles were prepared in the presence of 500 μM α-ketoglutarate, which is the principal intracellular substrate that drives the activity of OAT1 and OAT3 in vivo. This was accomplished by adding the α-ketoglutarate in the buffer at the step when pooled fractions identified as the BLM-fractions were centrifuged to remove Percoll and to concentrate the membrane vesicles (see below).

Studies using HgCl₂ or Hg-(GSH)₂ were performed with both untreated BLM vesicles and BLM vesicles pretreated for 15 min with 0.25 mM l-(αS,5S)-α-amino-3-chloro-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazoleacetic acid (acivicin; both in the absence and presence of Na⁺ ions) to evaluate the role of γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) in the transport process.

Materials

Percoll, PAH, acivicin, and l-γ-glutamyl-l-glutamate were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO). ²⁰³HgCl₂ (specific activity 8–12 mCi/mg Hg²⁺) was produced by previously described methods (Aslamkhan et al., 2003). Radioactivity of ²⁰³Hg²⁺ was determined by gamma spectroscopy at a counting efficiency of ~50%. All other chemicals were of the highest purity available and were purchased from commercial sources.

Animals

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (175–200 g at time of surgery; Harlan Sprague-Dawley, Indianapolis, IN) were used in the present study. Animals were housed in the Wayne State University vivarium, were allowed access to laboratory chow and water ad libitum, and were kept in a room on a 12-h light-dark cycle. The rats were divided into two surgical groups; one that underwent uninephrectomy (NPX rats) and the other that served as a nonsurgical control. Animals undergoing uninephrectomy were anesthetized with a single ip injection of sodium pentobarbital (50 mg/kg body weight) before surgery. A right-sided uninephrectomy was performed as described previously (Zalups and Lash, 1990). Earlier studies (Zalups, 1991a, 1991b; Zalups and Diamond, 1987) showed that there are no ostensible differences in structural and functional parameters between the kidneys of untreated control rats and sham-operated rats. Hence, nonsurgically treated rats were used as controls. Animals were allowed to acclimate for at least 5 days before being used in the study. Rats that had undergone uninephrectomy (NPX rats) were not used until at least 10 days post-surgery to allow for completion of the rapid phase of compensatory renal growth.

Isolation of renal BLM vesicles

Rats (either control or NPX) were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (50 mg/kg body weight, ip). After achievement of anesthesia, the kidney(s) was (were) excised through a midline incision and placed quickly in ice-cold, Na⁺-free 10 mM triethanolamine/HCl buffer (pH 7.6) containing 250 mM sucrose and 0.1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (to inhibit proteolysis). Renal tissue, consisting of the cortex and outer stripe of the outer medulla, was obtained by careful dissection. The same buffer was used throughout, with additions as indicated.

Basolateral membrane vesicles were prepared by a modification of the Percoll density-gradient centrifugation procedure of Scalera et al. 1981. Renal tissue (approximately 2 to 3 g) was homogenized in a Dounce homogenizer, containing 30 ml of buffer, with a serrated Teflon pestle (1200 rpm, 30 strokes, clearance of 0.15 to 0.23 mm; Arthur Thomas Co., Philadelphia, PA). An additional 20 ml of buffer were added to the homogenate, and then the total volume of homogenate was divided equally into two 50-ml polycarbonate, round-bottom centrifuge tubes. All steps were performed at 4°C. The homogenate was centrifuged at 2500 × g for 15 min. Supernatants were decanted into two new centrifuge tubes and centrifuged at 20,000 × g for 30 min to obtain the fluffy layer, which consists of crude plasma membranes. The fluffy layer was resuspended in 30 ml of buffer and then was homogenized gently in a Dounce homogenizer. Percoll (3 ml; final concentration = 10%, v/v) was then added to 27 ml of the homogenate containing crude plasma membranes. This mixture was homogenized gently and then centrifuged in 50-ml polycarbonate, round-bottom centrifuge tubes at 48,000 × g for 30 min. The gradient was fractionated from the top by pumping a 60% (w/v) sucrose solution (which was colored with blue dextran [3 mg/50 ml]) to the bottom of the tube through an 18-gauge steel cannula fitted through the middle of a double-hole, rubber stopper affixed to the top of the tube. Fractions (1.5 ml) were collected into 12 × 75 mm polystyrene tubes.

Basolateral and brush-border membrane fractions were identified by using marker enzymes, as described previously (Lash and Jones, 1982). Activities of GGT (EC 2.3.2.2) and (Na⁺ + K⁺)-stimulated ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) were used as markers for brush-border membrane and BLM vesicles, respectively. On the basis of the distribution of the activity of these markers, fractions comprising approximately 25% of the bottom of the Percoll gradient were used for the isolation of BLM vesicles. Pooled fractions were diluted approximately tenfold with buffer containing 500 μM α-ketoglutarate and were centrifuged at 100,000 g for 60 min to remove the Percoll and concentrate the membrane vesicles. The BLM pellet was resuspended in 1.5 ml of buffer, yielding a protein concentration of 2 to 4 mg/ml. Contamination of the BLM pellet with brush-border membranes was estimated to be <5%, as judged by the activities of marker enzymes (Lash and Jones, 1982). Additionally, marker enzymes for cytoplasm, microsomes, lysosomes, and nuclei showed that the BLM pellet was minimally contaminated with these subcellular fractions.

Assays used to measure binding and transport of Hg²⁺ in BLM vesicles

Binding and transport of Hg²⁺ were assessed in 25-ml polypropylene Erlenmeyer flasks at 22°C. Basolateral membrane vesicles (1 mg protein/ ml) were incubated with 0.03 lCi of ²⁰³HgCl₂ and various amounts of unlabeled Hg²⁺ in the form of either HgCl₂ or mercuric conjugates of Cys, GSH, or NAcCys. At indicated times, aliquots (0.5 ml) were filtered rapidly through nitrocellulose filters, having a pore size of 0.45-μm, under vacuum. The filters were washed with standard sucrose buffer, and the radioactivity of the material retained on the filters was determined by gamma spectroscopy (see below). Binding of Hg²⁺ to the membranes was determined by incubation of membrane vesicles in a 1000 mOsmol/kg sucrose buffer, which reduces intravesicular volume to near zero (Murer and Kinne, 1980; Sachs et al., 1980). Nonspecific association of radiolabel with the filters was typically <5% of total radioactivity in samples, and was subtracted from all measurements. Net transport was estimated by subtracting the amount of Hg²⁺ that was ostensibly bound to the plasma membranes (in a nonspecific manner) from the total amount of Hg²⁺ associated with the BLM vesicles.

Determination of content of Hg²⁺ in samples

The radioactivity of ²⁰³Hg²⁺ in aliquots of BLM vesicles was determined by counting the samples in a Wallac 1282 CompuGamma CS deep-well gamma spectrometer (Wallac-PerkinElmer, Gaithersburg, MD) operating at a counting efficiency of 50% for ²⁰³Hg²⁺. The actual content of Hg²⁺ in each sample was calculated by dividing the radioactivity of ²⁰³Hg²⁺ in the sample (dpm) by the specific activity of ²⁰³Hg²⁺in prepared standards (dpm/nmol). The amount of Hg²⁺in each sample was then expressed as nanomoles per milligram of protein.

Data analysis

Results are expressed as mean ± SE of measurements from the indicated number of separate BLM vesicle preparations. Results are normalized to protein content, after measurement of protein with Coomassie blue G, according to the method of Read and Northcote (1981), using bovine serum albumin as a standard. Significant differences among selected mean values were first assessed by analysis of variance (one-way, two-way, three-way, or even four-way ANOVA, depending on the parameters being varied). Variables included some or all of the following: (1) Hg²⁺ concentration, (2) surgical group (control, NPX), (3) presence or absence of Na⁺ ions, and in some cases, (4) presence or absence of acivicin. When significant F-values were obtained with the analysis of variance, the Fisher’s protected least significant difference t-test was performed to determine which means were significantly different from each other with two-tail probabilities of <0.05 considered significant.

RESULTS

Thiols, Na⁺ Ions, and Compensatory Renal Growth Alter Binding of Hg²⁺ to BLM Vesicles

The disposition of Hg²⁺ in isolated plasma membrane vesicles from rat kidneys involves both transport across and binding to the membranes (Zalups and Lash, 1997). Moreover, binding accounts for a large component of the Hg²⁺ associated with the membrane vesicles. Furthermore, binding may also account for some of the differences in the handling of Hg²⁺ after compensatory renal cellular hypertrophy. Quantitation of binding under all incubation conditions was also necessary to determine the component of total Hg²⁺ associated with the membranes that is due to specific, carrier-mediated transport. Hence, assessment of binding was necessary from both a methodological standpoint, so that transport could be determined, and from a physiological standpoint, because the high affinity of Hg²⁺ for membrane sulfhydryl groups implies that binding occurs in vivo and is, therefore, a significant component of the renal disposition of Hg²⁺. Accordingly, we quantified both binding and transport in renal BLM vesicles (isolated from both control and NPX rats) incubated with 1, 10, 20, 50, or 100 μM HgCl₂ (Fig. 1) or the same concentrations of Hg-(GSH)₂, Hg-(Cys)₂, or Hg-(NAcCys)₂ (Fig. 2). Additionally, some vesicles were preincubated with 0.25 mM acivicin to assess the potential role of Hg-(GSH)₂-degradation on the binding and transport of Hg²⁺.

FIG. 1.

Binding of Hg²⁺, with HgCl₂ as substrate, to basolateral membrane (BLM) vesicles from control and NPX rat kidney(s). Total membrane-associated Hg²⁺ was measured by incubating BLM vesicles with 1, 10, 20, 50, or 100 μM Hg²⁺ as the chloride salt and ²⁰³Hg²⁺, for up to 60 s in standard, 300 mOsmol/kg buffered sucrose solution. Binding of Hg²⁺ was determined by incubating BLM vesicles as above for 60 s in a buffered sucrose solution with an osmolarity of 1000 mOsmol/kg. Where indicated, samples were preincubated for 15 min with 0.25 mM acivicin. Results are expressed as nmol Hg²⁺/mg protein and are means ± SE of measurements from separate membrane vesicle preparations from three control and three NPX rats each. *Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from corresponding control sample. †Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from corresponding sample without acivicin.

FIG. 2.

Binding of Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates to BLM vesicles from control and NPX rat kidney(s). Total membrane-associated Hg²⁺ was measured by incubating BLM vesicles with 1, 10, 20, 50, or 100 μM Hg²⁺ in combination with a threefold molar excess of GSH, L-cysteine (Cys), or N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAcCys), and ²⁰³Hg²⁺, for up to 60 s in standard, 300 mOsmol/kg buffered sucrose solution. Binding of Hg²⁺ was determined by incubating BLM vesicles as above for 60 s in a buffered sucrose solution with an osmolarity of 1000 mOsmol/kg. Where indicated, samples were preincubated for 15 min with 0.25 mM acivicin. Results are expressed as nmol Hg²⁺/mg protein and are means ± SE of measurements from separate membrane vesicle preparations from three control and three NPX rats each. *Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from corresponding control sample. †Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from corresponding sample without acivicin.

In analyzing binding, two features were important: The specific amount of Hg²⁺ bound and the fraction of Hg²⁺ bound as compared to the total membrane-associated Hg²⁺ content. Data for the first feature are shown in Figures 1 and 2. Although data from the second feature are not shown, comparison of the binding data with those for transport presented below can be used to determine the fraction of binding of Hg²⁺. Some key observations from the analysis of Hg²⁺ binding indicate that (1) the amount of binding of Hg²⁺ was markedly higher in BLM vesicles from control rats than those from NPX rats, regardless of the form of Hg²⁺; (2) the amount of binding of Hg²⁺ was markedly reduced by the presence of a thiol; (3) the fraction of Hg²⁺ bound to BLM vesicles from control rats decreased with increasing concentration of Hg²⁺, whereas it generally increased in BLM vesicles from NPX rats with increasing concentrations of Hg²⁺; (4) the fraction of Hg²⁺ bound to BLM vesicles was generally lower when Na⁺ ions were present than when they were absent; and (5) acivicin had little effect on either the amount or fraction of binding of Hg²⁺ when HgCl₂ or Hg-(GSH)₂ were used as substrates. The most important implication of the lower level of binding and higher total association of Hg²⁺ in BLM vesicles from NPX rats relative to those from control rats, is that carrier-mediated transport plays a greater role in the renal disposition of Hg²⁺ in the former.

Time Course and Kinetics of Net Transport and Accumulation of Hg²⁺-Thiol Conjugates into BLM Vesicles from Control and NPX Rats

It is clear from the results on total membrane-associated and membrane-bound Hg²⁺ that there were significant differences in the disposition of Hg²⁺ between the BLM vesicles from control rats and those from NPX rats. Thus, we determined the time courses and kinetics for the net uptake and intravesicular accumulation of Hg²⁺ in BLM vesicles from both surgical groups under various incubation conditions. Inasmuch as HgCl₂ is not a physiologically relevant transport form of Hg²⁺ in vivo, the remaining data focus on studies with Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates as transportable substrates.

Net uptake of Hg²⁺ in BLM vesicles exposed to Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates was determined over a 60-s time course at Hg²⁺ concentrations of 1, 10, 20, 50, and 100 μM. Time courses for the uptake of Hg²⁺in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rats, when they were exposed to 20 μM Hg²⁺, in the form of one of the three thiol-conjugates, in the presence and absence of Na⁺ ions, are shown in Figure 3 as a sample of the data obtained. In all cases, and under all incubation conditions, the net amount of Hg²⁺ taken up increased with time up to 30 s. In the absence of Na⁺ ions, the highest rates of net uptake and accumulation of Hg²⁺ occurred with HgCl₂ as substrate (data not shown). No effect of pretreatment with acivicin was detected in BLM vesicles from control rats in the absence of Na⁺ ions or in BLM vesicles from NPX rats, in either the absence or presence of Na⁺ ions. Among the BLM vesicles exposed to one of the Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates, the rate of uptake of Hg²⁺ was faster in corresponding BLM vesicles exposed to Hg-(Cys)₂ than in those exposed to either of the other two conjugates. At a concentration of 20 μM, net uptake and accumulation of Hg²⁺, in the absence of Na⁺ ions, was higher in BLM vesicles from NPX rats when Hg-(Cys)₂ or Hg-(GSH)₂ was used as a substrate. Net uptake and accumulation of Hg²⁺, in the presence of Na⁺ ions, was higher in BLM vesicles from NPX rats than in those from control rats when Hg-(GSH)₂ was used as a substrate.

FIG. 3.

Time courses for net uptake of 20 μM Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rat kidney(s). Net uptake of 20 μM of either Hg-(GSH)₂, Hg-(Cys)₂, or Hg-(NAcCys)₂ in BLM vesicles was determined by incubating with medium containing ²⁰³Hg²⁺, in the presence and absence of Na⁺ ions. Binding was subtracted from total intravesicular contents to give net uptake. Results are expressed as nmol Hg²⁺/mg protein and are means ± SE of measurements from separate membrane vesicle preparations from three control and three NPX rats. *Significantly different (p < 0.05) from corresponding BLM vesicles from control rat kidneys.

To assess more directly the effect of uninephrectomy and compensatory renal growth on net transport and accumulation of Hg²⁺ in BLM vesicles, uptake of Hg²⁺ was studied and compared in both the absence and the presence of Na⁺ ions when the vesicles were exposed to extravesicular concentrations of one of the three Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates, ranging from 1 μM to 100 μM. Rates of net uptake after 30 s of incubation were calculated for both uptake in the absence of Na⁺ ions and for uptake calculated to be Na⁺-dependent (rate in presence of Na⁺ ions – rate in absence of Na⁺ ions) (Fig. 4). For Hg-(GSH)₂ as the transport substrate, values shown for kinetics are those that were measured with BLM vesicles that were not pretreated with acivicin, as no significant effects of acivicin pretreatment were observed.

FIG. 4.

Michaelis-Menten kinetics of Hg²⁺-thiol conjugate transport in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rat kidney(s). Values for net accumulation of Hg²⁺ after 30-s incubations with 1, 10, 20, 50, or 100 μM Hg-(GSH)₂, Hg-(Cys)₂, or Hg-(NAcCys)₂ are plotted. Results are means ± SE of measurements from separate membrane vesicle preparations from three control and three NPX rats. Curves were obtained by polynomial regression analysis. *Significant difference (p < 0.05) between values in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rats for uptake −Na⁺. †Significant difference (p < 0.05) between values in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rats for Na⁺-dependent uptake. Regression curves and correlation coefficients are as follows: Panel A: Control (−Na⁺): Y = 0.0284 + 0.10725X − 0.00041X², r² =0.988; Control (Na⁺-Dep.): Y =0.8844 + 0.13423X − 0.00070X², r² =0.984; NPX (−Na⁺): Y =1.1086 + 0.18049X − 0.00103X², r² = 0.976; NPX (Na⁺-Dep.): Y = 1.4933 + 0.15653X − 0.000705X², r² = 0.998. Panel B: Control (−Na⁺): Y = 3.0647 + 0.42X − 0.00344X², r² = 0.999; Control(Na⁺-Dep.): Y =3.0609 + 0.1576X − 0.00120X², r² =0.678; NPX (−Na⁺): Y =5.158 + 0.425X − 0.00266X², r² =0.940; NPX (Na⁺-Dep.): Y =4.619 + 0.237X − 0.00161X², r² = 0.981. Panel C: Control (−Na⁺): Y = 1.1851 + 0.2437X − 0.00133X², r² = 0.992; Control (Na⁺-Dep.): Y = 0.9464 + 0.1162X − 0.000581X², r² = 0.993; NPX (−Na⁺): Y = 1.307 + 0.1756X − 0.000585X², r² = 0.991; NPX (Na⁺-Dep.): Y = 3.008 + 0.1144X − 0.000736X², r² = 0.864.

Concentration-dependence profiles of both Na⁺-independent and Na⁺-dependent uptake of each of the three Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics. In the absence of Na⁺ ions, BLM vesicles from NPX rats exhibited significantly higher rates of uptake at most concentrations of Hg-(GSH)₂ and Hg-(Cys)₂ tested, but only at 1 μM Hg-(NAcCys)₂. In contrast, rates of Na⁺-dependent uptake of Hg-(GSH)₂ and Hg-(Cys)₂ in BLM vesicles from NPX rats were significantly higher than those in BLM vesicles from control rats at all concentrations tested; the same was true for Hg-(NAcCys)₂ at the three lowest concentrations (i.e., 1, 10, 20 μM) tested. Depending on exposure conditions, the magnitude of Hg²⁺ accumulation differed. The order of the magnitude of uptake in the absence of Na⁺ in BLM vesicles from either control or NPX rats was as follows: Hg-(Cys)₂ > Hg-(NAcCys)₂ ≫ Hg-(GSH)₂; for BLM vesicles from either control or NPX rats, the order of Na⁺-dependent uptake was Hg-(Cys)₂ = Hg-(GSH)₂ > Hg-(NAcCys)₂.

Based on the Michaelis-Menten plots (cf. Fig. 4), Eadie-Hofstee plots were constructed and kinetic parameters were derived for each Hg²⁺-thiol conjugate and each surgical group, for both Na⁺-independent and Na⁺-dependent uptake rates (Figs. 5–7, Table 1). In all but one case, the Eadie-Hofstee plots were easily resolvable into two components, suggesting that at least two separate transporter proteins participated in the uptake process.

FIG. 5.

Eadie-Hofstee plots for Hg-(GSH)₂ transport in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rat kidney(s). Initial rates of Hg-(GSH)₂ transport derived from Figure 3A for Na⁺-independent and Na⁺-dependent uptake were linearized by Eadie-Hofstee analysis and represent means ± SE of measurements from separate membrane vesicle preparations from three control and three NPX rats. Where not visible, error bars were within the size of the data point. Filled and open symbols represent data points from different ranges that were selected to provide the best fit for linear regression.

FIG. 7.

Eadie-Hofstee plots for Hg-(NAcCys)₂ transport in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rat kidney(s). Initial rates of Hg-(NAcCys)₂ transport derived from Figure 3C for Na⁺-independent and Na⁺-dependent uptake were linearized by Eadie-Hofstee analysis and represent means ± SE of measurements from separate membrane vesicle preparations from three control and three NPX rats. Where not visible, error bars were within the size of the data point. Filled and open symbols represent data points from different ranges that were selected to provide the best fit for linear regression.

TABLE 1.

Kinetic Parameters For Net Transport of Hg²⁺-Thiol Conjugates Across Isolated Basolateral Plasma Membrane (BLM) Vesicles from Kidneys of Control and NPX Rats

	Control		NPX
	Vmax	Km	Vmax	Km
Hg-(GSH)2
−Na+
System 1	3.50 ± 0.22	4.47 ± 0.25	3.85 ± 0.19	3.43 ± 0.24
System 2	9.27 ± 0.61	29.6 ± 1.7	11.5 ± 0.8	28.6 ± 1.5
Na+-dependent
System 1	3.34 ± 0.20	8.82 ± 0.43	4.36 ± 0.18	1.98 ± 0.08
System 2	12.2 ± 0.5	85.9 ± 2.7	15.5 ± 0.7	41.6 ± 1.9
Hg-(Cys)2
−Na+
System 1	7.42 ± 0.32	1.08 ± 0.07	11.1 ± 0.7	1.72 ± 0.06
System 2	21.6 ± 1.3	22.2 ± 1.0	24.8 ± 1.1	15.4 ± 0.6
Na+-dependent
System 1	7.47 ± 0.95	3.26 ± 0.29	8.07 ± 0.66	0.88 ± 0.12
System 2	–	–	13.7 ± 1.1	9.11 ± 0.75
Hg-(NAcCys)2
−Na+
System 1	3.00 ± 0.28	0.60 ± 0.05	3.73 ± 0.23	2.30 ± 0.11
System 2	21.0 ± 2.2	59.8 ± 4.8	19.5 ± 0.6	56.4 ± 1.8
Na+-dependent
System 1	2.32 ± 0.13	1.50 ± 0.06	5.54 ± 0.76	1.40 ± 1.5
System 2	8.96 ± 0.35	34.4 ± 2.1	7.36 ± 0.62	5.79 ± 0.44

Note. Eadie-Hofstee plots of net Hg²⁺ accumulation data (−Na⁺ and Na⁺-dependent uptake) were derived from data presented in Figure 4 for Hg-(GSH)₂, Hg-(Cys)₂, and Hg-(NAcCys)₂ and are shown in Figures 5–7. In all cases but one, Eadie-Hofstee plots could discriminate between two carrier-mediated processes. Results are derived from experiments with membrane vesicles from three control or three NPX rat kidneys. V_max values are expressed as nmol/30 s per milligram of protein, and K_m values are expressed as μM Hg²⁺-thiol.

When Hg-(GSH)₂ was used as the transport substrate, no significant differences in K_m or V_max values were apparent between BLM vesicles from control and NPX rats for either of the two transporter components for Na⁺-independent uptake (Fig. 5, Table 1). By contrast, K_m values for the high- and low-affinity transport processes for Na⁺-dependent uptake were approximately fourfold and twofold higher, respectively, in BLM vesicles from control rats than in BLM vesicles from NPX rats.

When Hg-(Cys)₂ was used as the transport substrate, there were no significant differences in the kinetic parameters for Na⁺-independent uptake between BLM vesicles from control and NPX rats (Fig. 6, Table 1). This pattern is similar to that when Hg-(GSH)₂ was used as the transport substrate. For Na⁺-dependent uptake of Hg-(Cys)₂, however, the Eadie-Hofstee plots indicate marked differences in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rats. Basolateral membrane vesicles from control rats exhibited only a single, discernible transport process, whereas those from NPX rats exhibited the typical pattern of a high-affinity, low-capacity and low-affinity, high-capacity process. The K_m value for the single process in BLM vesicles from control rats was approximately fourfold higher than the K_m value for the high-affinity, low-capacity process in BLM vesicles from NPX rats.

FIG. 6.

Eadie-Hofstee plots for Hg-(Cys)₂ transport in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rat kidney(s). Initial rates of Hg-(Cys)₂ transport derived from Figure 3B for Na⁺-independent and Na⁺-dependent uptake were linearized by Eadie-Hofstee analysis and represent means ± SE of measurements from separate membrane vesicle preparations from three control and three NPX rats. Where not visible, error bars were within the size of the data point. Filled and open symbols represent data points from different ranges that were selected to provide the best fit for linear regression.

Eadie-Hofstee plots for the Na⁺-independent transport of Hg-(NAcCys)₂ also exhibited two discernible processes (Fig. 7, Table 1). While V_max values for both processes were similar in BLM vesicles from the two surgical groups and K_m values for the low-affinity, high-capacity process were similar as well, the K_m value for the high-affinity, low-capacity process was actually fourfold higher in BLM vesicles from NPX rats. This one difference contrasts with results when the other Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates were used as substrates. For Na⁺-dependent transport, kinetic parameters for the high-affinity, low-capacity process were similar in BLM vesicles from the two surgical groups, as were the V_max values for the low-affinity, high-capacity process. The only difference was that the K_m value for the low-affinity, high-capacity process was approximately sixfold higher in BLM vesicles from control rats as in those from NPX rats.

Organic Anion and Amino Acid Transporters Participate in Hg²⁺-Thiol Conjugate Transport into BLM Vesicles, and Are Altered Selectively by Compensatory Renal Growth

To assess the effects of uninephrectomy and compensatory renal growth on the transport of Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates by specific transport systems, net uptake of 20 μM Hg²⁺-thiol conjugate was measured over a 60-s time course in the presence of 500 μM of various characteristic carrier substrates. In an attempt to present the data more clearly, only values for net accumulation of Hg²⁺ at 30 s are presented. Binding of Hg²⁺ for each of the three Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates to BLM vesicles was not affected by the presence of any of the characteristic carrier substrates (data not shown).

Net Na⁺-dependent accumulation of Hg-(GSH)₂ in BLM vesicles from control rat kidneys was significantly inhibited by PAH, glutarate, and l-γ-glutamyl-l-glutamate, implicating the function of OAT1 and/or OAT3 and SDCT2 (Fig. 8). A small degree of additional inhibition was observed when the three competing substrates were combined, suggesting that these and any additional carriers for GSH conjugates and other γ-glutamyl compounds are functioning simultaneously in the transport of Hg-(GSH)₂. The only significant effect of acivicin pretreatment was observed when incubations were performed with all three inhibitors simultaneously. Similar inhibition of net accumulation of Hg-(GSH)₂ by PAH, glutarate, and l-γ-glutamyl-l-glutamate was observed in BLM vesicles from NPX rat kidneys, with no significant effect of acivicin pretreatment being observed. The degree of inhibition of Hg-(GSH)₂ transport was greater in BLM vesicles from the sole kidney of NPX rats than in two kidneys from control rats.

FIG. 8.

Role of renal transporters in accumulation of Hg-(GSH)₂ in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rat kidney(s). Net accumulation of Hg-(GSH)₂ conjugate in BLM vesicles was determined by incubating vesicles with a pre-equilibrated solution of 20 μM HgCl₂ and 60 μM GSH, containing ²⁰³Hg²⁺, in the presence and absence of Na⁺ ions. When Na⁺ ions were present, potential competing substrates were added at a final concentration of 500 μM. Binding was subtracted from total intravesicular contents to give net uptake. Results, which indicate uptake in the absence of Na⁺ ions (−Na⁺), total uptake in the presence of Na⁺ ions (+Na⁺), and the Na⁺-dependent component of uptake, are expressed as nmol Hg²⁺/mg protein per 30 s and are means ± SE of measurements from separate membrane vesicle preparations from three control and three NPX rats. ^aStatistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from the corresponding sample incubated with buffer. ^bStatistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from the corresponding sample incubated in the absence of Na⁺ ions. ^cStatistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from the corresponding sample from BLM vesicles from control rat kidneys.

Net Na⁺-dependent accumulation of Hg-(Cys)₂ in BLM vesicles from control rat kidneys was significantly inhibited by p-aminohippurate (PAH), glutarate, l-alanine, and l-lysine, implicating the activity of OAT1 and/or OAT3, SDCT2, system ASC, and DBAT (Fig. 9). l-Phenylalanine had no effect on Na⁺-independent Hg-(Cys)₂ accumulation, suggesting that system L does not function in Hg-(Cys)₂ transport. Similar results were obtained in incubations of Hg-(Cys)₂ with BLM vesicles from NPX rat kidney, although the degree of inhibition by each characteristic substrate appeared to be somewhat less than that in BLM vesicles from control rat kidneys.

FIG. 9.

Role of renal transporters in accumulation of Hg-(Cys)₂ in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rat kidney(s). Net accumulation of Hg-(Cys)₂ conjugate in BLM vesicles was determined by incubating vesicles with a pre-equilibrated solution of 20 μM HgCl₂ and 60 μM l-cysteine, containing ²⁰³Hg²⁺, in the presence and absence of Na⁺ ions. Net accumulation values were determined as described in the legend to Figure 7. ^aStatistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from the corresponding sample incubated with buffer. ^bStatistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from the corresponding sample incubated in the absence of Na⁺ ions. ^cStatistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from the corresponding sample from BLM vesicles from control rat kidneys. ND, not determined.

Net Na⁺-dependent accumulation of Hg-(NAcCys)₂ in BLM vesicles from control rat kidneys was significantly inhibited by PAH and l-alanine (Fig. 10), suggesting that OAT1and/or OAT3 and the amino acid transporter system ASC are involved in the transport of Hg-(NAcCys)₂. In renal BLM vesicles from NPX rats, a somewhat different pattern was observed, with significant inhibition occurring with PAH and l-phenylalanine. However, l-phenylalanine did not inhibit Na⁺-independent Hg-(NAcCys)₂ accumulation. Taken together, these findings implicate a role for OAT1 and/or OAT3, but not the amino acid transporter system L, in the transport of Hg-(NAcCys)₂.

FIG. 10.

Role of renal transporters in accumulation of Hg-(NAcCys)₂ in BLM vesicles from control and NPX rat kidney(s). Net accumulation of Hg-(NAcCys)₂ conjugate in BLM vesicles was determined by incubating vesicles with a pre-equilibrated solution of 20 μM HgCl₂ and 60 μM N-acetyl-l-cysteine, containing ²⁰³Hg²⁺, in the presence and absence of Na⁺ ions. Net accumulation values were determined as described in the legend to Figure 7. ^aStatistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from the corresponding sample incubated with buffer. ^bStatistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from the corresponding sample incubated in the absence of Na⁺ ions. ^cStatistically significant difference (p < 0.05) from the corresponding sample from BLM vesicles from control rat kidneys.

DISCUSSION

In the present study, we sought to determine how renal accumulation and disposition of Hg²⁺ are altered as a result of compensatory renal growth and what transport processes may be associated with the changes. We chose isolated BLM vesicles as the experimental model for several reasons. First, we have many years of experience with this biological model (Lash and Jones, 1982, 1985a; Zalups and Lash, 1997; Zalups and Minor, 1995). Second, the nature of this model allows us to manipulate and precisely define the incubation environment, thereby enabling us to discriminate clearly between Na⁺-dependent and Na⁺-independent processes and between binding to the plasma membrane and actual transport into the intravesicular space. Third, use of this model eliminates most of the confounding metabolic processes that may occur within the cell and may obscure the results. Finally, use of BLM vesicles obtained from normal rat kidneys and from the remnant kidney of a rat that has undergone uninephrectomy and compensatory renal growth allows us to directly assess the effects of compensatory renal growth on binding and transport.

Analysis of kinetics of net uptake and intravesicular accumulation of Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates in BLM vesicles from kidney(s) of control and NPX rats showed differences in both K_m and V_max values for Na⁺-independent and Na⁺-dependent processes. With Hg-(GSH)₂ as a substrate, V_max values for both Na⁺-dependent systems discriminated by Eadie-Hofstee analysis were 25% to 35% higher in BLM vesicles from the remnant kidney of NPX rats. The low-affinity, high-capacity system for Na⁺-independent transport was also 25% higher in BLM vesicles from the NPX rat kidney than in those from control rat kidneys. Larger differences were observed in K_m values, with those for Na⁺-dependent transport being 78% and 52% lower for the two systems in BLM vesicles from the NPX rat kidney. This decrease in K_m is likely due to an increase in transport sites that result from compensatory cellular hypertrophy. More complex changes were observed in the transport of Hg-(Cys)₂. Although only modest changes were observed in kinetic parameters of Na⁺-independent transport, markedly different kinetics for Na⁺-dependent uptake were observed in BLM vesicles from kidney(s) of the two surgical groups. Eadie-Hofstee analysis resolved only one transport system in BLM vesicles from the kidneys of control rats but two transport systems in BLM vesicles from the remnant kidney of NPX rats. With Hg-(NAcCys)₂ as a substrate, modest differences were observed in the kinetic parameters for the two transport systems under Na⁺-independent or Na⁺-dependent conditions. As noted above, however, little or no change in transport properties, particularly V_max values, actually indicates an increase in net rates of transport because of the increase in membrane protein content resulting from compensatory growth.

Competition experiments demonstrated that OAT1 and/or OAT3 (PAH- and glutarate-inhibitable), possibly SDCT2 (glutarate-inhibitable), system ASC (l-alanine-inhibitable), and DBAT (l-lysine-inhibitable) all play a role in the net uptake and accumulation of Hg-(Cys)₂ in renal BLM vesicles from both control and NPX rats. It appears that when Hg-(NAcCys)₂ is presented to the BLM, OAT1 and/or OAT3 and system ASC participate in the net uptake and accumulation of Hg²⁺. When Hg-(GSH)₂ is presented to the BLM, it appears that both OAT1 and/or OAT3, and possibly SDCT2, are involved in the net uptake and accumulation of Hg²⁺. These findings are consistent with previous results demonstrating a role for PAH- or probenecid-inhibitable transport in the uptake of organic conjugates of GSH (Lash and Jones, 1985a). l-γ-Glutamyl-l-glutamate was also a potent inhibitor of Hg-(GSH)₂ transport, providing additional evidence that the Hg-(GSH)₂ conjugate is handled similarly at the renal BLM as are other GSH conjugates. Inasmuch as glutarate is a substrate for OAT1, OAT3, and SDCT2 at high concentrations, any conclusion about the specific role of SDCT2 in Hg-(Cys)₂ or Hg-(GSH)₂ transport will require further validation. Additional competition studies with more carrier-selective substrates and inhibitors can help provide further information about the function of each carrier in Hg²⁺-thiol conjugate transport.

As far as a role or requirement for GGT activity in the net uptake and accumulation of Hg-(GSH)₂ is concerned, experiments performed with competitive inhibitors were done with 20 μM Hg-(GSH)₂ in both untreated and acivicin-pretreated vesicles. It is not surprising that no effects of acivicin-pretreatment were observed, because acivicin only appeared to have a modest effect at the highest concentrations of Hg-(GSH)₂ used (i.e., ≥50 μM) (cf. Fig. 2). The absence of a significant effect of acivicin on Hg-(GSH)₂ uptake and accumulation, therefore, indicates that while a small portion of the Hg²⁺ that accumulates in renal cells incubated with Hg-(GSH)₂ is transported as Hg-(Cys)₂ and/or possibly as a mercuric conjugate of l-cysteinylglycine, most is transported as intact Hg-(GSH)₂. Hence, we conclude that GGT activity is not required for the uptake of Hg²⁺ in BLM vesicles when Hg-(GSH)₂ is used as the transport substrate.

Our findings support the overall hypothesis that the increased susceptibility of NPX rats to the nephrotoxic effects of Hg²⁺ relative to that of rats with two normal kidneys is associated with increased renal uptake and accumulation of Hg²⁺. Moreover, the most novel aspect of our findings is that we can associate the increased transport of Hg²⁺ with effects on activities of specific carrier proteins. More specifically, our findings implicate specific transport systems at the BLM and increases in the level of transport and accumulation of specific molecular species of Hg²⁺ that occur in association with compensatory renal growth. The identity of the carrier proteins involved in this compensatory response depends on the transport form of Hg²⁺, differing if Hg²⁺ is presented as Hg-(Cys)₂, Hg-(GSH)₂, or Hg-(NAcCys)₂. It is significant that the changes occurring after uninephrectomy and compensatory renal growth are not simply representative of an overall increase in transport activity. Thus, while there are some increases in total membrane-associated Hg²⁺ (again, dependent on the form of Hg²⁺), the most prominent effect is a significant redistribution of accumulated Hg²⁺ between that which is membrane-bound and that which is transported (cf. Figs. 1 and 2). Additionally, variations in response were observed in the absence and presence of Na⁺ ions. Although the presence of Na⁺ ions only slightly decreased the fraction of membrane-bound Hg²⁺ (possibly owing to a simple charge effect), altered function of specific, Na⁺-coupled carrier proteins was important in the enhanced uptake and accumulation of Hg²⁺ or Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates.

Our present findings pertaining to the binding of Hg²⁺ to the BLM confirm and extend those of an earlier study (Zalups and Lash, 1997). In general, there was a markedly lower proportion of membrane binding of Hg²⁺, but a similar or higher amount of total membrane-associated Hg²⁺ in the renal BLM vesicles from NPX rats than in those from control rats. This pattern of binding leads us to the overall conclusion that transport into the intravesicular space, as distinguished from other forms of membrane association (primarily binding), is increased in renal BLM vesicles after uninephrectomy and compensatory renal growth. Additional support for this conclusion was obtained by quantifying net uptake and intravesicular accumulation of Hg²⁺ (cf. Figs. 3–7). The form and concentration of Hg²⁺, the presence or absence of Na⁺ ions, and whether renal BLM vesicles were derived from control or NPX rats, clearly made a difference in the extent of uptake and accumulation. Under many conditions, the largest amount of Hg²⁺ accumulation was detected with HgCl₂ as substrate, although this is not believed to be a physiological transport form of Hg²⁺. Under other conditions, the largest amount of Hg²⁺ accumulation was detected when Hg-(Cys)₂ or Hg-(NAcCys)₂ were used as transportable substrates. For most conditions, Hg²⁺ accumulation with Hg-(Cys)₂ was greater than that with Hg-(NAcCys)₂. In all cases, however, Hg²⁺ accumulation with Hg-(GSH)₂ was less than that with Hg-(Cys)₂. Because Cys and its various forms are present at higher concentrations than GSH and its various forms in rat plasma (Lash and Jones, 1985b), Hg-(Cys)₂ is probably a more important physiological transport form of Hg²⁺ than Hg-(GSH)₂.

There are two additional issues that arise from these studies: The first issue pertains to the mechanism of increased carrier activity after compensatory hypertrophy. One possibility is an increase in carrier protein expression. An alternative mechanism would involve post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation. For example, the OATs are known to be regulated by various hormones and protein kinases (Wright and Dantzler, 2004). The second issue is that of changes in luminal transport processes that might influence renal accumulation of Hg²⁺. We have performed studies similar to those presented here, but using isolated brush border membrane (BBM) vesicles (Lash, L. H., Hueni, S. E., Putt, D. A., and Zalups, R. K., manuscript in preparation). This is critical for putting the BLM transport results into the context of events that occur in the intact proximal tubule.

In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that compensatory renal growth is indeed associated with increased transport of Hg²⁺ across the BLM, and that specific organic anion and amino acid carriers are involved in the increased transport of Hg²⁺-thiol conjugates. We also show that both binding and transport are important determinants in the renal cellular accumulation of Hg²⁺. Our results illustrate the complexities of the biochemical and molecular changes that proximal tubular cells of remnant renal tissue undergo following compensatory renal growth.