Maleate treatment of rats induces transport defects similar to those seen in the Fanconi syndrome (glycosuria, aminoaciduria, phosphaturia, proteinuria, etc.) and causes an accumulation of apical vesicles in proximal tubule epithelial cells. Because the apical membrane glycoprotein, gp330, is a receptor associated with the apical endocytotic and recycling apparatus in these cells, we examined the effect of maleate on the distribution of this protein and other brush border markers. Rats received sodium maleate (400 mg/kg ip) and were killed at various times between 45 min and 3 h; kidneys were perfusion fixed with paraformaldehyde-lysine-periodate before processing for immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. In control rats, staining with a polyclonal or monoclonal gp330 antibody showed a uniform distribution on the brush border and in coated pits of all proximal tubule cells. In the S3 segments, the immunofluorescence labeling of the microvilli was generally uniform but-at times showed spike labeling, suggesting that gp330 sheds easily from the apical membrane. After maleate treatment, the staining intensity of the brush border was decreased in all proximal tubule segments, and cytoplasmic streaks as well as an intense vacuolar staining were seen. In the S3 segment, a remarkable mosaic pattern of staining was observed, with the brush border of some cells being completely negative, while adjacent cells showed an apparently normal staining pattern. These results were confirmed at the electron microscope level, using the protein A-gold technique. Maleate had no effect on the distribution or staining intensity of four other blush border markers, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, and various lectins (Helix pomatia lectin, peanut lectin, elderberry bark lectin). The urinary excretion of gp330 occurs in normal rats and was already increased as early as 1 h after maleate injection and remained at a twofold increment between 6 and 24 h. These data suggest that the generalized membrane transport derangement seen in this experimental Fanconi syndrome could occur via a specific effect on gp330, which seems to block endocytosis and the recycling apparatus at the late endosome level and inhibits the formation of new dense apical tubules.
