The metabolism of 125I-labelled insulin by isolated Zucker rat hepatocytes.

ABSTRACT

The metabolism of 125I-labelled insulin by hepatocytes isolated from 48-h-starved Zucker lean and obese rats was studied. Hepatocytes from the lean animals bound significantly more 125I-labelled insulin and had a greater receptor number per cell than did cells from obese littermates. Hepatocytes from the lean animals degraded and internalized more hormone than did those from obese ones. Increased degradation and internalization correlated with the increased receptor number.