Effects of Ethanol on $Na^+-dependent$ Solute Uptake in Rabbit Renal Brush-Border Membrane Vesicles

This study was undertaken to examine the effect of ethanol on $Na^+-dependent$ transport systems (glucose, phosphate, and dicarboxylate) in renal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV). Ethanol inhibited $Na^+-dependent$ uptakes of glucose, phosphate, and succinate in a dose-dependent manner, but not the uptakes of $Na^+-dependent.$ The $H^+/TEA$ antiport was reduced by 8% ethanol. Kinetic analysis showed that ethanol caused a decrease in $V_{max}$ of three transport systems, leaving $K_m$ values unchanged. Ethanol decreased phlorizin binding, which was closely correlated with the decrease in $V_{max}$ of $Na^+-glucose$ uptake. These results indicate that ethanol inhibits $Na^+-dependent$ uptakes of glucose, phosphate, and dicaboxylate and that the reduction in $V_{max}$ of $Na^+-glucose$ uptake is caused by a decrease in the number of active carrier proteins in the membrane.