H+ gradient-dependent transport of aminocephalosporins in rat intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles. Role of dipeptide transport system.

The transport of cephalosporin antibiotics in brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from rat small intestine has been studied by a rapid filtration technique, demonstrating a carrier-mediated transport system for aminocephalosporins such as cephradine. In agreement with the transport mechanisms of dipeptides, the uptake of cephradine by brush-border membrane vesicles was Na+-independent and was stimulated in the presence of an inward H+ gradient ([H+]o greater than [H+]i). Cephradine uptake in the presence of an inward H+ gradient was a saturable process with an apparent Km of 9.4 mM, and was markedly inhibited by dipeptides but not inhibited by amino acids. The present data suggest that aminocephalosporins can be transported by a common carrier-mediated system with dipeptides in the intestinal brush-border membranes and this process may be driven by an H+ gradient.