Effect of histamine H2-receptor antagonist, ranitidine on renal brush border and basolateral membranes

The antiulcerogenic drug ranitidine, given orally to mice, brought about reductions of kidney-bound hydrolytic enzymes at three different dose levels, viz. 10 mg, 100 mg, and 1000 mg/kg body weight, and for three different time points (single administration for 2 h and 24 h, and daily administration for 15 days). The activities of Na+, K(+)-ATPase, Ca2(+)-ATPase, and Mg2(+)-ATPase (marker enzymes of basolateral membranes) were reduced, and these reductions were significant at higher doses and after a 24-h single treatment or 15 days' daily treatment. Maltase, alkaline phosphatase, and leucine aminopeptidase (marker enzymes of brush border membrane [BBM]) activities were significantly inhibited after ranitidine treatment. Kinetic analysis of BBM-associated enzymes indicated that ranitidine decreased the maximum of apparent initial enzyme velocity (Vmax) of maltase, alkaline phosphatase, and leucine aminopeptidase. The substrate affinity constant (Km) was decreased in the case of alkaline phosphatase and maltase, while it was not altered in the case of leucine aminopeptidase. In vitro addition of ranitidine to renal BBM also produced significant inhibition of these enzymes, the inhibition constants (Ki) for maltase, alkaline phosphatase, and leucine aminopeptidase being 7.5, 15.5, and 3.5 mM, respectively. Membrane-bound lipid estimation showed a significant increase in phospholipids, triglycerides, and free fatty acids. Cholesterol, however, was decreased in both renal basolateral and brush border membranes.