Isolation of syncytial microvillous membrane vesicles from human term placenta and their application in drug-nutrient interaction studies.

The initial step in placental uptake of nutrients occurs across the syncytial microvillous membrane of the trophoblast. This study was designed to isolate syncytial microvillous membrane vesicles (SMMV) of human term placenta, to validate their purity and viability, and to investigate the interaction of several commonly used drugs with the transport of two essential nutrients: alanine and choline. SMMV were isolated according to an established procedure, but instead of homogenization the initial preparation step was replaced by mincing of placental tissue followed by gently stirring to loosen the microvilli. These modifications doubled the protein recovery and increased the enrichment in alkaline phosphatase, whereas no substantial contamination with basal membranes nor interfering subcellular organelles was found. The functional viability of the vesicles was evaluated through the transport of alanine. In accordance with literature, uptake was sodium-dependent, inhibitable by structural analogues, and saturable. A number of cationic drugs were were able to able to inhibit choline uptake, whereas no effect on alanine transport was observed. Anionic drugs, drugs of abuse, and catecholamines did not interfere with alanine transport either. In conclusion, our isolated SMMV provide a suitable tool for screening drug-nutrient interactions at the level of membrane transport. In view of the very low susceptibility of the alanine transporter to drug inhibition and the relatively high drug concentrations necessary to inhibit choline transport, it seems unlikely that clinically important drug interactions may occur with these nutrients.