Effect of thyroxine administration on phosphate transport across renal cortical brush border membrane

Previous studies indicate that in hyperthyroid states the renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate is enhanced. To determine the cellular basis of this phenomenon, we investigated the effect of L-thyroxine (T4) administration on Pi transport across brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from rat renal cortex. Rats were thyroparathyroidectomized, fed a diet containing 1.2% phosphate, and treated intraperitoneally for 6 days with 200 micrograms T4 X 100 g body wt-1 X day-1. At the end of the treatment period, the rats had a significantly (+ delta 25%) elevated plasma Pi and a slightly decreased plasma Ca compared with controls. The renal clearance of Pi was not different between the two groups. Na+ gradient-dependent uptake of 32Pi by BBMV from renal cortex was significantly enhanced in T4-treated rats. BBMV uptake of 32Pi in the absence of Na+ -gradient as well as Na+ gradient-dependent uptake of D-[3H]glucose and L-[3H]proline did not differ between BBMV from T4-treated and control rats. Kinetic analysis showed that the Na+ gradient-dependent 32Pi transport system in BBMV from T4-treated rats had a significantly increased Vmax compared with controls (5.2 +/- 0.4 vs. 4.1 +/- 0.4 nmol Pi X 30 s-1 X mg protein-1) and also a slightly higher affinity for Pi (apparent Km in controls, 95 +/- 9; in T4-treated, 78 +/- 8 microM). Gluconeogenesis in cortical slices was not significantly different between T4-treated rats and controls. Specific activities of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase were significantly lower in BBMV from the T4-treated group compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)