Insulin binding and degradation in isolated hepatocytes from streptozotocin injected rats

Isolated hepatocytes from streptozotocin injected rats bound the same amount of [125I]monoiodoinsulin as hepatocytes from control rats. Scatchard analysis confirmed that insulin receptor number and affinity were the same for both groups. Relatively more cell-associated radioactivity was located intracellularly in hepatocytes from streptozotocin injected rats. Pretreatment with chloroquine resulted in a smaller increase in intracellular [125I]monoiodoinsulin in cells isolated from streptozotocin injected rats than for control cells. These results suggest that intracellular insulin processing occurs more slowly in hepatocytes isolated from streptozotocin injected rats than from control rats.