Ionic requirements for taurocholate transport in rat liver plasma membrane vesicles.

As part of the enterohepatic circulation, taurocholate is taken up by hepatocytes by a Na+-gradient-dependent, carrier-mediated process. The dependence of taurocholate uptake on the presence of a Na+ gradient, outside greater than inside, has been studied in isolated rat liver plasma membranes. The uptake is specific for sodium, and a cotransport stoichiometry of 2 Na+ per taurocholate taken up was found. The presence of K+ ions inside the vesicles was also found to be essential for maximum Na+-stimulated uptake of taurocholate, although a K+ gradient is not required. Mg2+ was almost as effective as K+ in this regard. The symport of Na+ and taurocholate during uptake was shown to be electrogenic, so that K+ may act as an exchange counterion preventing the accumulation of positive charge within the vesicles.