Cimetidine uptake and interactions with cationic drugs in freshly isolated proximal tubular cells of the rat.

The uptake of cimetidine was investigated in freshly isolated proximal tubular cells of the rat as well as its interaction with other cationic drugs. The time-dependent uptake of 5 microM cimetidine was linear for 2 min and reached equilibrium after 10 min. The uptake was reduced at 4 degrees C or by addition of 5 mM mepiperphenidol. At pH 7.4, only a small percentage (20%) of cimetidine is present in the cationic form, which is thought to be necessary for transport by the organic cation transporter. At a more acidic pH 6.5, this percentage is increased to 67%, but there was no influence on the cellular uptake in comparison with control. The cationic form of cimetidine does not seem to be a prerequisite for the organic cation transporter in these cells. The uptake of cimetidine was concentration-dependent and saturable. The mepiperphenidol-sensitive uptake had a high (H) and low (L) affinity apparent Km,H of 6.7 +/- 1.2 microM and Km,L of 0.61 +/- 0.16 mM, and Vmax,H of 35.8 +/- 2.2 pmol/mg of protein.min and Vmax,L of 4.5 +/- 0.3 nmol/mg of protein.min. The concentration-dependent inhibition of other cationic drugs on 1 microM cimetidine uptake was investigated. The log concentration-inhibition curves of mepiperphenidol, famotidine and trimethoprim showed a high and low affinity IC50 value, with a potency ranking of mepiperphenidol = famotidine > trimethoprim. The other compounds had only a low affinity IC50 value and the inhibitory potency ranking was as follows: ranitidine = nizatidine > tetraethylammonium > probenecid.