Insulin binding and insulin response of adipocytes from rats adapted to fat feeding

The effect of fat feeding on adipocyte insulin binding was examined to expand a study of adaptive changes in plasma membrane functions. Cells from rats fed a high fat (L) diet for five to seven days bound less insulin and showed a decreased response to insulin (glucose oxidation) compared to those from rats fed a high glucose (G) diet. Both high and low affinity sites were influenced; the extent of the binding difference increased as increasing concentrations of insulin were present in the assay medium. Diet did not change hormone degradation on the capacity of phospholipase C to increase binding. Concanavalin A effects on fat cells were also decreased by L diet both in inhibition of insulin binding and its insulin-like effect on glucose oxidation. Spermine, which had no effect on insulin binding, also had a smaller insulin-like effect on glucose oxidation by L cells than by G cells. Serum insulin was significantly lower (30 +/- 3.7 muU/ml) in L than in G (43 +/- 3.1 muU/ml) groups. Dietary fat produces alterations in fat cells that decrease insulin binding as a part of a complex overall adaptation to the diet.