THE INSULIN RECEPTOR IN NORMAL AND OBESE PERSONS

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Abstract
Using [125I]insulin at 172 pmol/l (1 ng/ml) the binding of insulin to mononuclear leukocytes isolated from peripheral blood was studied. This study was comprised of 21 healthy subjects (22-23 yr old, 90-110% of ideal wt) and a comparable group of 22 obese subjects (20-37 yr old, minimum 150% of ideal wt). A significant difference in insulin binding was found between the 2 groups, the mean specific insulin binding fraction in normals being 1.92 .+-. 0.58 (s) .times. 10-2 and that for the obese 1.19 .+-. 0.41 (s) .times. 10-2 (P < 0.01). No correlation was found between body weight and the number of insulin receptors in the obese subjects. The number of insulin receptors was negatively correlated to fat cell size (P < 0.05). Insulin receptors in subjects were also negatively correlated to fasting plasma insulin (P < 0.05). Insulin receptors were studied in 11 obese subjects before and after 10 days of fasting. A significant increase in the number of insulin receptors was observed with a simultaneous decrease in plasma insulin to normal values. Obesity complicated by hyperinsulinism is probably associated with a decrease in the number of insulin receptors comapred with the normal. This finding may in part explain the decreased insulin sensitivity of the hyperinsulinemic obese.

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