Insulin stimulates synthesis of soluble proteins in isolated rat hepatocytes

The incorporation of [3H]leucine into soluble cellular protein was measured in isolated hepatocytes at extracellular leucine concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 20.0 mM. Insulin caused a 12--15% stimulation of [3H]leucine incorporation in the presence of high extracellular leucine concentrations. It is concluded that insulin causes a small but significant increase in the rate of hepatic protein synthesis.