Abstract
D-fructose transport was characterized in renal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) from both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive genetic control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Kinetic studies indicated that the maximal rate (Vmax) of D-fructose transport was significantly lower in SHR compared with WKY rats. No differences were observed in the Michaelis constant (Km) or the diffusion constant (Kd) between the two groups of animals. D-fructose inhibited its own transport, whereas the presence of D-glucose, D-galactose, phlorizin, and cytochalasin B did not inhibit the transport of D-fructose in either animal group. To explain the reduction in D-fructose transport in SHR, the density of the D-fructose transporter, GLUT5, was analyzed by Western blot. GLUT5 levels were lower in SHR, a reduction similar to that of the Vmax. Thus, there appears to be a high-affinity, low-capacity, GLUT5-type fructose carrier in the apical membranes of rat kidney cortex, and the decrease in the Vmax of D-fructose transport in renal BBMVs from hypertensive rats correlates well with a reduction in the expression of GLUT5 protein.