Calcium and oxalate uptake by the renal brush border membrane vesicles in magnesium-deficient rats

Calcium and oxalate uptake by renal brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) was examined in magnesium-deficient and pair-fed control rats. Uptake studies were carried out by rapid filtration technique and rate of influx of calcium and oxalate as a function of extravesicular concentration (0.1 nM--1.0 mM) examined. Calcium uptake by renal BBMV exhibited saturable kinetics while oxalate uptake followed a biphasic transport mechanism showing saturable kinetics at low oxalate concentrations and passive diffusion at higher concentrations. In magnesium deficiency the kinetics of calcium and oxalate uptake by renal BBMV remained unaltered but the rate of uptake was significantly enhanced at all the extravesicular concentrations studied. Double reciprocal plot for calcium uptake showed no change in Vmax but a decrease in Km (2.08 mM) in magnesium--deficient rats as compared to pair-fed controls (Km = 5.00 mM). Similar plot for oxalate uptake showed an increase in Vmax (7.69 nmoles/8 min/mg protein) in magnesium deficient group as compared to pair-fed controls (5.55 nmoles/8 min/mg protein), while Km remained unchanged. The results of the present study indicate high risk of calcium oxalate stone formation in magnesium--deficient rats due to hyperabsorption and retention of calcium and oxalate by the renal tubular brush border membrane.