Insulin binding and action in antibody-induced diabetes in the rat

The influence of antibody-induced insulin deficiency in rats on the insulin binding and insulin sensitivity of adipocytes was studied. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with an insulin antibody preparation; the development of hyperglycaemia was followed and the animals were sacrificed 3 and 5 h after antibody injection. Up to 3 h, no significant change of insulin binding or sensitivity of the adipocytes occurred. At 5 h, cells of antibody-treated rats showed an approximately 40% increased binding capacity compared with untreated rats. The increased binding capacity was accompanied by an approximate two-fold increased sensitivity of the insulin effect on lipogenesis from glucose in these cells.