Renal nutrients uptake and brush-border membrane enzymes in cholesterol-fed guinea pigs

Abstract The effect of dietary cholesterol load on the reabsorption of nutrients and the enzyme and chemical characteristics of renal brush-border membrane (BBM) was evaluated in guinea pigs. The transport of d -glucose and amino acids into the renal BBM vesicles of experimental animals was significantly ( P V max of leucine aminopeptidase decreased without alteration in K m ; however, both the K m and V max of alkaline phosphatase and maltase decreased in renal membrane in response to cholesterol load. The alterations in the chemical architecture of the membrane could possibly be responsible for the observed aberrations in the kidneys of cholesterol-fed animals.