Endocrinology, Vol 120, 1695-1702, Copyright © 1987 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Insulin-related changes in the subcellular distribution of insulin receptors in intact rat liver: effects of acute hypoinsulinemia induced by diazoxide, somatostatin, and xylazine

S Lopez and B Desbuquois

The effects of inhibitors of insulin secretion on the concentration of plasma insulin and on the subcellular distribution of hepatic insulin receptors have been examined in rats. Liver plasma membranes, Golgi fractions, and a total particulate fraction were prepared various times after the injection of diazoxide (10 mg), xylazine (0.5 mg), and somatostatin (20 micrograms as a bolus followed by a 20 micrograms/15- min infusion), solubilized by Triton X-100, and examined for specific insulin binding. Injection of each of these drugs caused a 4- to 8-fold decrease in plasma insulin concentration, and concomitantly, a 25-35% decrease in insulin binding to Golgi fractions; a 10% increase in insulin binding to plasma membranes also occurred in diazoxide-treated rats. Insulin binding to the total particulate fraction was unaffected. These changes achieved maximum by 10-30 min and underwent complete reversal in 1 h. The decrease in insulin binding to Golgi fractions resulted exclusively from a change in receptor number and was accompanied by a 4- to 6-fold decrease in the content of extractable insulin in these fractions; the latter observation suggests that receptor internalization, rather than receptor synthesis, is diminished. The effects of diazoxide on plasma insulin concentration, insulin binding to Golgi fractions, and insulin content of Golgi fractions were fully prevented by tolbutamide, a stimulant of insulin secretion. These results show that acute hypoinsulinemias in rats are accompanied by changes in the subcellular distribution of hepatic insulin receptors that are opposite to those previously observed in acute hyperinsulinemias. Furthermore, both in acute hyperinsulinemic and hypoinsulinemic models, a significant correlation is observed between plasma insulin concentration on the one hand, and insulin binding to Golgi fractions as well as insulin content of Golgi fractions on the other. It is concluded that the extent to which hepatic insulin receptors are internalized is a function of their occupancy by endogenous hormone, and that, at least under acute conditions, receptor internalization is one major mechanism involved in receptor regulation.