Food restriction beneficially affects renal transport and cortical membrane lipid content in rats

Food restriction (FR) exerts a variety of beneficial effects and may prolong life in both humans and animals. However, studies of its effects on the cortical brush border membrane (BBM) and basolateral membrane (BLM) lipid concentration, which may be pertinent to renal function, have not been reported in detail. We hypothesized that FR would decrease renal work and lower renal membrane lipid concentration. The changes in lipid concentration would be most dramatic in BBM because this membrane is the entry site for the recovery of filtered ions and nutrients. Young male Fischer 344 x Brown-Norway F1 rats consumed food ad libitum (AL) or were food-restricted (FR, 60% of AL consumption) for 6 wk. AL rats had higher fractional excretions of Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-) than did the FR group (P < 0.001). Renal Na,K-ATPase activity in AL rats was 100% higher than in FR rats (P < 0.001), reflecting greater renal work. The work required for renal proton secretion was lower in FR than in the AL rats. In FR rats, all BBM phospholipid concentrations (phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and sphingomyelin) were approximately 50% lower than in the AL rats (P < 0.001). In the BLM, food restriction resulted only in lower phosphatidylcholine concentration, while the other phospholipids were unaffected. Plasma and renal membrane (BBM and BLM) cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in FR than in AL rats. These results show that a nutritionally complete, but energy restricted, diet improves renal function. It also prevents renal membrane lipid deposition and decreases plasma cholesterol. Prolonged food restriction might attenuate the renal injury that occurs in obese humans as a consequence of insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.