Thyroid hormones increase Na+–Pi co-transport activity in intestinal brush border membrane: Role of membrane lipid composition and fluidity

In the present study, we documented the promising role of thyroid hormones status in animals in modulation of Na+–Pi transport activity in intestinal brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) which was accompanied with alterations in BBM lipid composition and fluidity. Augmentation of net Pi balance in hyperthyroid (Hyper-T) rats was fraternized with accretion of Pi transport across BBMV isolated from intestine of Hyper-T rats as compared to hypothyroid (Hypo-T) and euthyroid (Eu-T) rats while Na+–Pi transport across BBMV was decreased in Hypo-T rats relative to Eu-T rats. Increment in Na+–Pi transport in intestinal BBMV isolated from Hyper-T rats was manifested as an increase in the maximal velocity (Vmax) of Na+–Pi transport system. Furthermore, BBMV lipid composition profile in intestinal BBM from Hyper-T was altered to that of Hypo-T rats and Eu-T rats. The molar ratio of cholesterol/phospholipids was higher in intestinal BBM from Hypo-T rats. Fluorescence anistropy of diphenyl hexatriene (rDPH) and microviscosity were significantly decreased in the intestinal BBM of Hyper-T rats and decreased in Hypo-T rats as compared to Eu-T rats which corroborated with the alteration in membrane fluidity in response to thyroid hormone status of animals. Therefore, thyroid hormone mediated change in membrane fluidity might play an important role in modulating Na+–Pi transport activity of intestinal BBM. (Mol Cell Biochem 278: 195–202, 2005)