Effect of glucocorticoids and adrenaline on insulin receptors in plasma membranes and nuclear envelopes of the rat liver

To elucidate the course of regulation of insulin receptors in nuclear envelope and its relationship with insulin receptors in the plasma membrane a comparative study of these receptors in both subcellular fractions was conducted under the influence of the involved cell surface receptor factor. It is found that under adrenalectomy the number of nuclear envelope receptors and degree of their affinity did not increase as this occurs in plasma membrane receptors. Hydrocortisone replacement therapy in these animals lowers the receptor number in the both fractions. Hydrocortisone-induced hypercorticism does not change 125I-insulin binding by nuclear envelope but decreases its binding (accounted for the number of receptors and affinity) by the plasma membrane. Under hyperadrenalinemia the number of receptors decreases in the both subcellular fractions. The results suggest no independent regulation of insulin receptors on the surfaces of nuclei and cells.