Developmental maturation of Na(+)-H+ exchange in rat renal tubular brush-border membrane

I. Zelikovic, E. Stejskal, P. Lohstroh, A. Budreau and R. W. Chesney Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle 98105. The developmental maturation of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger present in the proximal tubular luminal membrane of the rat was investigated. An overshoot of 1 mM Na+ uptake was evident in brush-border membrane vesicles derived from the renal cortex of 7- and 21-day-old and adult rats in the presence of an outwardly directed H+ concentration ([H+]) gradient [intravesicular pH (pHi) = 5.5; extravesicular pH (pHo) = 7.5]. Na+ uptake was amiloride sensitive at all ages examined. Significantly higher initial rate (3 s) Na+ uptake and peak accumulation (60 s) in the presence of a [H+] gradient were found in vesicles from 7-day-old rats compared with adult animals. Significantly enhanced initial rate Na+ uptake by neonatal vesicles was also evident under pH-equilibrated conditions (pHi = pHo = 7.5). An age-related decrease in amiloride-sensitive Na+ accumulation by vesicles was found. Kinetic analysis of Na(+)-H+ exchange in voltage-clamped vesicles, in the presence of dimethylamiloride (DMA), and calculating 5-s Na+ uptake values showed a maturational decrease in capacity (decreasing Vmax) coupled with a maturational increase in affinity (decreasing Km) of Na(+)-H+ antiport. These data suggest that an enhanced amiloride-inhibitable Na(+)-H+ exchange activity due to increased capacity of exchange exists in the proximal tubular luminal membrane of the neonatal rat. This increased Na(+)-H+ exchange may potentially contribute to positive Na+ balance in the growing organism and may rapidly dissipate the electrochemical Na+ gradient across the luminal membrane necessary for Na(+)-solute contransport, thereby contributing to glycosuria and aminoaciduria of early life.