On the development of glycine transport systems by rat renal cortex

The initial uptake of glycine by renal cortical slices from newborn Sprague-Dawley and Long-Evans rats is the same as that observed in adult tissues. Both newborn and adult tissue possess similar high and low affinity glycine transport systems which require an examination of velocity measurements over a wide range of concentration (0.02--50.0 mM) for their discernment. Initial rates of glycine uptake by isolated renal tubule fragments from newborn and adults are similar at a physiological substrate concentration but at high glycine levels there appears to be a decrease in velocity of uptake (V) associated with the high Km system in the young. Whatever preparation of renal cortex is studied, there is a consistent finding that immature tissue is able to accumulate much higher intracellular levels of glycine than the adult, a finding consistent with slower efflux from the cell. An interpretation of the etiology of physiologic aminoaciduria in young animals should take this into account.