RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Transport of gentamicin and fluid-phase endocytosis markers in the LLC-PK1 kidney epithelial cell line. JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 669 OP 674 VO 268 IS 2 A1 M Takano A1 Y Ohishi A1 M Okuda A1 M Yasuhara A1 R Hori YR 1994 UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/268/2/669.abstract AB In order to characterize the transport of aminoglycoside in the cultured kidney epithelial cell line LLC-PK1, cellular uptake of gentamicin was studied in comparison with those of fluid-phase endocytosis markers, lucifer yellow and horseradish peroxidase. The uptake of gentamicin and fluid-phase markers were time-dependent and were reduced at low temperature. The rate of gentamicin uptake was, however, faster than those of lucifer yellow and horseradish peroxidase, and was saturable. The accumulation of gentamicin in the cells was increasing even after 6 days of incubation, whereas that of lucifer yellow reached a steady state by 1 day. Release of intracellular gentamicin from LLC-PK1 cells was much slower than that of lucifer yellow. Gentamicin uptake, but not lucifer yellow uptake, was increased by reducing the ambient ionic strength. Under the low ionic strength conditions, gentamicin uptake was inhibited by the presence of other aminoglycosides, lysozyme, polyamines such as spermine and inorganic cations such as calcium. These results indicate that gentamicin electrostatically binds to the cell apical membrane and is subsequently taken up by an adsorptive endocytosis in LLC-PK1 cells.