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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Cholesterol Efflux Assay
Published on: March 6, 2012
Cholesterol modulates organic cation transport activity and lipid fluidity in rat renal brush-border membranes
1Department of Pharmacy, Kyoto University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
Abstract:
The role of cholesterol in organic cation transport was studied in rat renal brush-border membranes. H+ gradient-dependent uptake of the organic cation tetraethylammonium in brush-border membrane vesicles was stimulated by cholesterol enrichment in a dose-dependent manner. The dissipation rate of the H+ gradient, a driving force for organic cation transport in brush-border membranes, was reduced by cholesterol enrichment. Tetraethylammonium uptake in the absence of H+ gradient was also stimulated by cholesterol enrichment. These findings indicate that cholesterol modulates tetraethylammonium uptake by affecting the intrinsic activity of the organic cation transporter and the H+ gradient dissipation rate. Therefore, cholesterol content should be an important determinant for organic cation transport in renal brush-border membranes.
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