Hepatic ammonium metabolism is critical for maintenance of normal health. Three mammalian members of an ammonium transporter family have recently been identified: Rh A glycoprotein (RhAG), Rh B glycoprotein (RhBG), and Rh C glycoprotein (RhCG). This study examined which of these are expressed in the mouse liver and in which cells they are expressed.

Normal Balb/c mice were used. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was detected using either conventional or real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Protein expression was examined using immunoblot analysis and either immunohistochemical or immunofluorescent microscopy.

We confirmed hepatic RhBG mRNA expression using real-time RT-PCR. Immunoblot analysis identified expression of a ∼45-kilodalton protein. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent microscopy identified basolateral RhBG immunoreactivity in 1–2 cell layers of hepatocytes surrounding central veins. No immunoreactivity was identified in periportal or midzonal hepatocytes. Perivenous hepatocyte-specific expression was confirmed by colocalization with glutamine synthetase. A second ammonium transporter, RhCG, was expressed but at substantially lower levels. Real-time RT-PCR quantified hepatic RhCG mRNA expression at ∼0.4% of RhBG mRNA expression. Immunoblot analysis confirmed RhCG protein expression, and immunofluorescence microscopy identified RhCG expression in bile duct epithelia. In contrast to RhBG and RhCG, RhAG mRNA was not identified by RT-PCR.

RhBG and RhCG are expressed by the mouse liver. Basolateral RhBG is expressed by perivenous hepatocytes, where it may mediate ammonium uptake, and RhCG immunoreactivity is present in bile duct epithelial cells, where it may contribute to ammonium secretion into bile fluid.