Relation between the renal function and the membrane environment where the
organic anion transporters Oat1 and Oat3 are localized is scarce. The aim of this study was to examine the Oat1 and Oat3 distribution in different cellular fractions under physiological conditions as well as the effects of
extrahepatic cholestasis on membrane distribution of both
proteins. Besides, the potential role of
jaundice serum on the Oat1 and Oat3 expression in
suspensions of renal tubular cells was evaluated. Cellular and membrane fractions of renal cortex were obtained from control rats to evaluate Oat1 and Oat3
protein expressions. Other rats were subjected to bile duct
ligation (BDL) or
Sham operation to determine the membrane distribution of Oat1 and Oat3 between
lipid raft domains (LRD) and non-LRD. Incubation of renal cortical cells with serum from
Sham and BDL were also performed to study Oat1 and Oat3
protein expressions. In physiological conditions, Oat1 and Oat3 were concentrated in LRD. The pathology induced a shift of Oat1 from LRD to non-LRD, while Oat3 showed no changes in its distribution. In cells exposed to BDL serum,
Oat1 protein expression in membranes significantly increased. For Oat3, no difference between groups was observed. The Oat1 redistribution to non-LRD in BDL could be favoring the increase in renal transport of organic
anions previously observed. This change was specific to Oat1. The in vitro experiment allows to conclude that some component present in BDL serum is responsible for the alterations observed in Oat1 expression in cortical membranes.