Characterization of Na⁺‐Dependent Phosphate Uptake in Cultured Fetal Rat Cortical Neurons

Abstract: Our laboratory has recently cloned and expressed a brain‐ and neuron‐specific Na⁺‐dependent inorganic phosphate (P_i) cotransporter that is constitutively expressed in neurons of the rat cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. We have now characterized Na⁺‐dependent ³²P_i cotransport in cultured fetal rat cortical neurons, where >90% of saturable P_i uptake is Na⁺‐dependent. Saturable, Na⁺‐dependent ³²P_i uptake was first observed in primary cultures of cortical neurons at 7 days in vitro (DIV) and was maximal at 12 DIV. Na⁺‐dependent P_i transport was optimal at physiological temperature (37°C) and pH (7.0–7.5), with apparent K_m values for P_i and Na⁺ of 54 ± 12.7 µM and 35 ± 4.2 mM, respectively. A reduction in extracellular Ca²⁺ markedly reduced (>60%) Na⁺‐dependent P_i uptake, with a threshold for maximal P_i import of 1–2.5 mM CaCl₂. Primary cultures of fetal cortical neurons incubated in medium where equimolar concentrations of choline were substituted for Na⁺ had lower levels of ATP and ADP and higher levels of AMP than did those incubated in the presence of Na⁺. Furthermore, a substantial fraction of the ³²P_i cotransported with Na⁺ was concentrated in the adenine nucleotides. Inhibitors of oxidative metabolism, such as rotenone, oligomycin, or dinitrophenol, dramatically decreased Na⁺‐dependent P_i import rates. These data establish the presence of a Na⁺‐dependent P_i cotransport system in neurons of the CNS, demonstrate the Ca²⁺‐dependent nature of ³²P_i uptake, and suggest that the neuronal Na⁺‐dependent P_i cotransporter may import P_i required for the production of high‐energy compounds vital to neuronal metabolism.